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, Research Brief 09-01-
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| Modelling, 107, 145-
Vdm Verlag, p32
COMBINATION OF VIRTUAL TOURS, 3D MODEL AND DIGITAL DATA IN A 3D
ARCHAEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SYSTEM
M. Kochl, N. Brigand
The Image Sciences, Computer Sciences and Remote Sensing Laboratory LSIIT-TRIO UMR 7005, INSA Strasbourg, France
mathicu.kochl@insa-strasbourg. fr
Commission IV/5, 4, 1, 8, II/6, VI/1, 2: Web-based Virtual and Shared Geospatial Environments
KEY WORDS: Cultural Heritage, Three-dimensional, Modeling, Laser scanning, Interface, Visualization
ABSTRACT:
The site of the Engelbourg ruined castle in Thann, Alsace, France, has been for some years the object of all the attention of the city,
which is the owner, and also of partners like historians and archacologists who are in charge of its study. The valuation of the site is
one of the main objective, as well as its conservation and its knowledge.
The aim of this project is to use the environment of the virtual tour viewer as new base for an Archaeological Knowledge and
Information System (AKIS). With available development tools we add functionalities in particular through diverse scripts that convert
the viewer into a real 3D interface. By beginning with a first virtual tour that contains about fifteen panoramic images, the site of about
150 times 150 meters can be completely documented by offering the user a real interactivity and that makes visualization very concrete,
almost lively. After the choice of pertinent points of view, panoramic images were realized. For the documentation, other sets of images
were acquired at various seasons and climate conditions, which allow documenting the site in different environments and states of
vegetation. The final virtual tour was deducted from them. The initial 3D model of the castle, which is virtual too, was also joined in
the form of panoramic images for completing the understanding of the site. A variety of types of hotspots were used to connect the
whole digital documentation to the site, including videos (as reports during the acquisition phases, during the restoration works, during
the excavations, etc.), digital georeferenced documents (archaeological reports on the various constituent elements of the castle,
interpretation of the excavations and the searches, description of the sets of collected objects, etc.). The completely personalized
interface of the system allows either to switch from a panoramic image to another one, which is the classic case of the virtual tours, or
to go from a panoramic photographic image to a panoramic virtual image. It also allows visualizing, in inlay, digital data, like ancient
or recent plans, cross sections, descriptions, explanatory videos, sound comments, etc.
This project has lead to very convincing results, that were validated by the historians and the archaeologists who have now an
interactive tool, disseminated through internet, allowing at the same time to visit virtually the castle, but also to query the system which
sends back localized information. The various levels of understanding and set up details, allow an approach of first level for broad
Internet users, but also a deeper approach for a group of scientists who are associated to the development of the ruins of the castle and
its environment.
1. INTRODUCTION geometry of the site by using TLS techniques, then to create a 3D
model of it. A second step was to integrate two and three
dimensional data into a Geographic Information System (GIS)
(Berger, 2011). Set apart the recent works of the actual
Alsace, France, expressed the objective to develop its archacologist in charge of the ruins, the only existing data of this
attractiveness. One of its important sites is the ruined castle of site came from the archaeological excavations made by
Engelbourg, built at the beginning of the thirteenth century. It is Ehretsmann in 1992 (Ehretsmann, 1992).
located at the top of a mountain so called “Schlossberg” (castle’s This project has two main purposes. One possible direction was
mountain), Its strategic location involved repetitive destructions to work with the archaeologist in order to build a 3D model of
during the seventeenth century until 1673 when Louis XIV the castle as it was in 1660, just before it was completely
ordered to destroy it in total. Nowadays, you couldn’t tell there destroyed. This would consist in a virtual conception and
NS à castle there, However, a tower section remains and is quite ^ construction by interpreting the few drawings and knowledge that
Val known: “l'œil de Ia sorcière” (the witch's eye). exist today. The other direction was to go on with the virtual
C. Steiner, the officer in charge of the economic development of tour, The idea was to build a tour by using panoramas created
tie municipality decided to work on a patrimonial, artistic and from the pictures of the site. Those panoramas have to be linked
louristic development of the site. J. Koch, an archacologist ^ to each other and the tour will present several ways to show and
Working for the PAIR (PAIR, 2012) (Rhenish Interdepartmental integrate other types of digital data. The 3D model should also be
Archeological Pole: a governmental structure dealing with the integrated into the tour as an additional source of information.
ärcheological sites and missions), is in charge of the Many other features could be created. The tour could also be
itchacological Studies. A. Fontaine, who is working on the linked to a database, to the web pages, etc. Virtual tours, 3D
valuation of the sites and collections of the PAIR took care of the model and digital data were combined in this project in order to
dreading of the study. The LSIIT/TRIO team from the INSA of create an original type of 3D interface for a 3D Archacological
l'asbourg took part to this project through different graduation Knowledge and Information System (AKIS).
and research projects. The first step was the acquisition of the
This project consists of a follow-up which began in 2010. The
head of Thann (Ville-Thann, 2011), a little city in the south of
