- 142 - 
moiré technique and would be complemented by a similar 
device based on the principles of digital (terrestrial) 
photogrammetry. This project is named OSIRIS (Optical 
Systems for Interferometric-Photogrammetric Relief 
Investigation and Scanning), in reference to Ancient Egypt's 
heritage, whose study was at the root of the above mentioned 
researches*. For the different kinds of use in the field of 
Archaeology and Art History, the following conditions have 
been defined: 
Depth resolution: 0.1 mm; lateral resolution: 0.3 mm 
Depth range: 10 cm 
Adaptation of the sensing geometry to depth gradients 
distribution (that will define the best compromise between 
acquisition resolution, focal distance and object - camera 
distance) 
Acquisition surface: 1 m 2 
Adaptation to on site working conditions (temperature, 
sunlight,...) 
Flexibility and easiness of transport and use 
Complete processing software (acquisition, multiple 3D 
visualisation possibilities, modeling, metrology, computer 
assisted interpretation, automatic features extraction, 3D 
database conception and constitution, ...) 
Since these conditions are very demanding in comparison with 
the capabilities of already available 3D recording devices, other 
fields of application are under consideration. 
The present results of the OSIRIS Project allow us to imagine 
for the near future new possibilities for scholarly publication of 
ancient monuments, i. e. in an interactive digital 3D virtual 
reality, directly usable for scientific researches, as if one was 
actually in front of the real object. 
REFERENCES 
Assmann J., Burkard G., Davies V. 1987. Problems and 
Priorities in Egyptian Archaeology. Londres and New York. 
Bell L.D. 1987. The Epigraphic Survey: the philosophy of 
egyptian epigraphy after sixty years' practical experience. In 
Assmann J., Burkard G., Davies V. 1987, pp. 43-55. 
Clarke T. 1998. Simple scanners reveal shape, size and texture. 
Optic Laser Europe , april, pp. 29-32 
Loeben C.E. 1996. Anmerkungen zu jüngsten Arbeiten 
ägyptischer Epigraphik. ARCUS - Berichte aus Archäologie, 
Baugeschichte und Nachbar gebieten, 3, pp. 15-27. 
Taubes G. 1999. Virtual Masterpiece. Computer Modeling of a 
Michelangelo Sculpture. Think Research, 1, pp. 6-9. 
Traunecker C. 1987. Les techniques d'epigraphie de terrain. 
Principes et pratique. In Assmann J., Burkard G, Davies V. 
1987, pp. 261-298. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
It is a pleasure for us to thank the following institutions for their 
financial support to the OSIRIS project: 
- The Communauté Française of Belgium (Action de Recherche 
Concertée entitled "Pour une histoire matérielle de l'Art") 
- The Région Wallonne (DGTRE - First Spin Off project) 
Our attendance at the Corfu Workshop was made possible 
thanks to the support of the Communauté Française of Belgium. 
* Furthermore, Osiris is precisely the Ancient Egyptian god of 
periodical and cyclical phenomenon.