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SimVis Heritage
The modern archaeologist can be overwhelmed with the
huge quantity of data generated from contemporary scanning and measurement
technologies. This problem is further compounded by the vast quantity
of data types, format and representations in use today. Traditional
2D Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are nowadays widely used by
archaeologists in order to gather a large amount of data into a single
visualization. These software systems remain a simple layer manager
that do not provide high level visualization and navigation tools.
SimVis Heritage and our collaborators are actively involved with researching
and developing immersive and interactive techniques in order to facilitate
interaction and comprehension of large archaeological datasets. Through
the effective use of VR technologies provided by the HIVE
we are able to fully immerse the archaeologist and members of the public
into the datasets which can be more readily understood when visualized
using these immersive techniques. Often the displays provide the viewer
with an improved understanding of the data and enable them to uncover
hidden insights into the data that may not have been discovered using
traditional visualization techniques.
EPOCH
Excellence in Processing Open Cultural Heritage |
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SimVis Heritage is a member of the EPOCH (Excellence
in Processing Open Cultural Heritage) Framework 6 Network of Excellence.
This network contains around a hundred European cultural institutions
all collaborating together in order to improve the quality and
effectiveness of the use of Information and Communication Technology
for Cultural Heritage.
Participants include university departments,
research centres, heritage institutions, such as museums or national
heritage agencies, and commercial enterprises, together endeavouring
to overcome the fragmentation of current research in this field.
The Network provides a holistic inter-disciplinary
view of the research agenda and acts as a mechanism to bring cohesion
to the efforts of network members in forming a European Research
Area (ERA). The network is designed to serve as a centre of gravity
both for its members and for other research groups with interests
and background in this area and for formulating the research agenda
for future development of the technologies which support cultural
heritage applications. The network will strengthen inter-disciplinary
cohesion through projects, skills brokerage, dissemination, education
and training, the activates of a review college, as well as on-line
resources and events. It will enhance the economic value of large-scale
facilities and scare resources. It will improve the impact of
research through standardisation activities and encouraging open-source
solutions and it will improve the community’s self-evaluation
of research by dissemination of benchmarking datasets. Finally
the network will act as a catalyst to involve SMEs and other industrial
partners in the sector, by using Virtual Clusters to help create
mutual support and a critical mass of widely accessible and commercial
activity. More information on the EPOCH network can be found at:
http://www.epoch-net.org
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VENUS
The Virtual Exploration of Underwater Sites
VENUS is a collaboration between SimVis Heritage
and a number of European partners. This shared expertise covers
underwater technologists (a combination of ROV, AUV and sensors
experts), underwater archaeologists and museum experts. SimVis
Heritage provides the group with a solid background and knowledge
of computer graphics and virtual reality.
The goal of VENUS is to structure the existing
European scientific knowledge and technological capabilities in
the fields of underwater archaeology, computer science, marine
technologies and science exhibits with an overall focus on improving
the public’s experience and access to underwater archaeological
sites.
In order to achieve this goal, SimVis Heritage
is focussing on generating accurate and realistic underwater environments
for the visualization of submerged archaeological sites. SimVis
is currently researching new and immersive marine visualizations.
Realistic underwater marine rendering include accurate modelling
of the water column, currents, marine and plant life (shoaling
of fish and plant movement) and lighting effects. Our goal is
to provide a realistic marine ‘plug-in’ for submerged
archaeological computer generated environments.
Relevant publications
Constructing Immersive Virtual Environments
for the Visualization of Underwater Archaeological Sites,
Chapman PM, Viant WJ and Munoko M, XXXII Computer Applications
and Quantitative Methods to Archaeology Conference, Prato, Italy,
13-17 April 2004.
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New Perspectives on Ancient Landscapes: A Case
Study of the Foulness Valley
As a pilot study, SimVis Heritage developed an immersive virtual
environment in order to gain new perspectives on ancient landscapes.
The pilot study considered multiple archaeological datasets
relating to the Foulness Valley in East Yorkshire.
The Foulness Valley -
An Interactive Immersive Visualization of Multiple Archaeological
Datasets
The pilot study has been successful and most
of the information typically available to the archaeologist has
been integrated. This includes data such as aerial pictures, OS
maps, crop marks, soil maps and Digital Elevation Models. However,
this kind of information has been strongly enhanced to use the
full power of an immersive environment such as 3D terrain and
enhanced crop marks. The above graphic shows the Foulness Valley
with a variable sea level that masks the underwater terrain allowing
the viewer to visualize varying sea levels over time. According
to the majority of the trial testers of the application, the visualization
of the terrain on the large work wall, even without the head-coupled
mode enabled, provided a radical new perception of the landscape
which will greatly facilitate archaeological research.
Relevant publications
New Perspectives on Ancient Landscapes: A Case Study of the
Foulness Valley, Pansiot J, Chapman PM, iant WJ, Halkon P,
(to appear) The 5th International Symposium on Virtual Reality,
Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Belgium, December 7-10, 2004.
Download the SimVis Archaeology Leaflet
here
 SimVis
Heritage Breaking News
The 'Valley of the First Ironmasters' site was launched on 13
December 2004 by archaeologist Julian Richards of 'Meet the Ancestors'
fame. Hull Museums hosted a press launch in the morning and, later
in the day, the University of Hull hosted a launch for ERAS and
University members. Visit the site here
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Academic and Research Staff |
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| Warren Viant, Peter Halkon, Paul Chapman, James
Ward, Derek Wills, Mark Faulkner, Martin Millet, Ian Dolphin,
Malcolm Lillie, Richard Green.
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SimVis Archaeology Collaborators |
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| BAe systems, BP, CBA Yorks, Dale Farm Foods, English
Heritage, ERAS, Haverfield Bequest, Holme Charity, Market Weighton
Town Council, N.Payne, RM Burton Charitable Trust, Robert Kiln Trust,
RAI, Smith and Nephew, Trust House Forte, Universities of Cambridge,
Durham, Hull Leeds, Southampton, Yorkshire Archaeological Society,
VENUS and EPOCH. |
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