4.3 Data linking
Once we get our panoramas made of pictures and from the 3D
model, we use Kolor Panotour Pro to create the tour. There is
also an extension called krPano to add features to the tour by
modifying the XML code. The development is based on the
krPano tools (Kolor, 2011): krPano has a small and simple
dynamic scripting language, can be customized in many ways
and uses command or function called action. It is possible to use
existing actions and also to define new ones. Then, the system
can be encapsulated in an HTML page, so as to be passed on and
be accessible via an internet viewer or other devices like iPhone
or iPad. The interactions between the entities can be statically
described in XML pages or dynamically manipulated with help
of krPano actions (krPano, 2011).
The software is quite simple to use. A main window shows all
the data imported into the project (panoramas or other 2D data).
After that, you create links between the panoramas by adding
"hotspots". These hotspots are entities you click on in the tour in
order to activate a link. The link can lead you to another
panorama, to a picture, to a web site, etc. It can consist in an
animated spot, a geometric shape: point, surface, and it can be
visible or not. The different characteristics are illustrated and
described in the Kolor Panotour pro help or forum web pages
(KolorHelp, 2012). We can see there the different types of data
integrated, panoramas from images, from 3D model, maps, other
digital data work (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Screenshot of Kolor Panotour pro environment
5. ARCHAEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND
INFORMATION SYSTEM
5.1 Data
The idea of the tour is to be able to deal with all types of data.
That’s why the aim of this project was to test all the ways to
integrate photographic panoramas and panoramas generated
from the 3D model, 2D data and documents, text and links into
the tour. The Figure 5 illustrates the different data types and
links to the virtual tour.
2D documents: The idea of integrating 2D data into the virtual
tour is a way to combine the augmented reality created through
panorama to other types of information. A 2D document could be
a drawing, a picture, a map, a scheme, etc. It is a way to integrate
data which would have many different contains and purposes.
However, even if this integration offers interactivity with the
user, a question remains: is it the most efficient way to show the
data? For instance, if we consider a set of pictures, wouldn’t it be
easier to orientate the user to another page or link which would
contain the whole set of pictures? The more there is integrated
information, the bigger and the more complex the tour will be.
Figure 5. Links between virtual tour and external datasets
Other datasets: By data, there was also the idea of integrating
information in form of text format and through links to the
Internet. There are several ways to do it thanks to Kolor
Panotour pro, but it remains obvious that the software is more
efficient with pictures and panorama. For instance, it would be
much more efficient to integrate text with the aid of a PDF
document than by using the HTML format. Kolor Panotour pro
is also able to deal with many other formats. For instance, it is
also possible to integrate videos, music or sounds in MP3
format. This could be useful to integrate oral comments to the
tour.
5.2 Data linking and augmented reality
The Kolor Panotour pro version offers a lot of tools. On the
following screenshot, we can see for elements integrated into the
generated test tour. For example, a Combo Box allows the user
to choose the panorama he wants to see by selecting in the list.
Orientation arrows, zoom in, zoom out and other tools are
available thanks to icons at the bottom of the screen. Thus tow
new elements appear:
e A bar (hidden or visible) presenting all the panoramas
and documents of the tour. The user will be able to
move to the information by clicking on one of these
thumbnails.
e A map, with hotspots and radar. The user can move
from a panorama to another through the global map.
He is also able to orientate himself thanks to the
animated hotspot he is on and thanks to the radar
giving the view direction. ;
The size of this map can be chosen. It will be bigger
while used and smaller in the corner if it is not used.
Having those orientation tools, the tour becomes more
interactive. As far as the user has many options to travel through
the tour, it becomes possible to deal with more data. The Figure
6 illustrates the virtual tour which can be integrated in a web
browser environment. However, as we know that the virtual our
is far more efficient with visual data, and considering that 1t 1$
quite easy to create links from the tour to the internet, We could
consider another way to show data: a web site.
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