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Many institutions archive historical images of architecture in urban areas and make them available to scholars and the general public through online platforms. Users can explore these often huge repositories by faceted browsing or keyword-based searching. Metadata that enable these kinds of investigations, however, are often incomplete, imprecise, or even wrong. Thus, retrieving images of interest can be a cumbersome task for users such as art and architectural historians trying to answer their research questions. Many of these images, often containing historic buildings and landscapes, can be oriented spatially using automatic methods such as “structure from motion” (SfM). Providing spatially and temporally oriented images of urban architecture, in combination with advanced searching and exploration techniques, offers new potential in supporting historians in their research. We are developing a 3D web environment useful to historians enabling them to search and access historic photographic images in a spatial context. Related projects use 2D maps, showing only a planar view of the current urban situation. In this paper, we present an approach to create interactive views of 4D city models, i.e., 3D spatial models that show changes over time, to provide a better understanding of the urban building situation regarding the photographer’s position and surroundings. A major feature of the application is to make it possible to spatially align 3D reconstruction models to photogrammetric digitized models based on historical photographs. At the same time, this mixed methods approach is used for validation of the 3D reconstructions.

[ES] Mediante el siguiente proyecto se muestra un modelo 3D del estado actual de las ruinas de Tos Pelat de Moncada. Dicho modelo es obtenido mediante el levantamiento de la zona con láser escáner. Posteriormente se ha limpiado la nube de puntos y creado el modelo 3D que representa el estado actual de las ruinas. A continuación, apoyándonos en la ayuda del arqueólogo del museo Arqueológico de Moncada y en investigaciones se realiza una reconstrucción de como debieron ser las ruinas originalmente. Finalmente se realiza un paseo virtual para mostrar las ruinas en su estado original a los visitantes del museo Arqueológico de Moncada., [EN] The following project shows a 3D model of the current state of the Tos Pelat of Moncada ruins. Said model is obtained by surveying the area with a laser scanner. Subsequently, the point cloud has been cleaned and the 3D model representing the current state of the ruins has been created. Then, with the help of the archaeologist from the Moncada Archaeological Museum and some researchs, a reconstruction of what the ruins should have been like is originally made. Finally, a virtual tour is carried out to show the ruins in their original state to visitors to the Moncada Archaeological Museum.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are widely used in low-cost photogrammetry. Even small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) can deliver valuable data for the inventory of inaccessible and dangerous areas or objects. The acquisition of data for 3D object modeling is a complicated, time-consuming, and cost-intensive process. It requires the use of expensive equipment and often manual work as well as professional software. These are major barriers limiting the development of modern tourist platforms that promote local attractions. Information technologies offer new opportunities for the development of the services market, including the development of smart tourism services, as an integral part of the smart city concept. 3D models are an important element of this process as they form the basis for the use of new visualization technologies, such as Virtual, Mixed, and Augmented Reality (VR/MR/AR). 3D modeling provides a new opportunity to use AR/MR technology to present information about objects, virtual tours of the historic buildings, and their promotion. It also creates an opportunity to preserve the architectural heritage and preventive maintenance of buildings. Despite the increasing use of new measuring platforms and computer modeling techniques, the implementation of 3D building models in smart tourism services is still limited, focusing more on the results of scientific projects rather than on the implementation of the new ones. The paper presents an universal methodology for the inventory of historical buildings using low-cost UAVs. It describes the most important aspects related to the process of planning UAV measurement missions and photogrammetric data acquisition. The construction of 3D models and the possibilities of their further use to build smart tourism services based on Web/AR/MR/VR technology was also presented.

Nowadays, there is a significant interest in new media types such as 3D models. Thanks to the computer graphics advances, 3D content can be rendered in real-time on desktop and mobile devices improving the user experience. In addition, 3D contents may be endowed with heterogeneous metadata to improve the user understanding. This paper aims at improving the fruition of 3D models of industrial products. This type of content is designed as CAD (Computer-Aided Design) models, whose representation is not suitable for visualization over the web. We present an online processor of 3D models able to extract semantic content. The extracted data are represented in a meaningful and structured manner, such that the user can first visualize them on demand through any device, and then export the results for further analysis or to be processed by other external applications if necessary. The exploitation of Web technologies makes the framework easy to use both from desktop and mobile devices, no matter their specific hardware and software equipment.

Today, a wide scope for 3D graphics applications exists, including domains such as scientific visualization, 3D-enabled web pages, and entertainment. At the same time, the devices and platforms that run and display the applications are more heterogeneous than ever. Display environments range from mobile devices to desktop systems and ultimately to distributed displays that facilitate collaborative interaction. While the capability of the client devices may vary considerably, the visualization experiences running on them should be consistent. The field of application should dictate how and on what devices users access the application, not the technical requirements to realize the 3D output. The goal of this thesis is to examine the diverse challenges involved in providing consistent and scalable visualization experiences to heterogeneous computing platforms and display setups. While we could not address the myriad of possible use cases, we developed a comprehensive set of rendering architectures in the major domains of scientific and medical visualization, web-based 3D applications, and movie virtual production. To provide the required service quality, performance, and scalability for different client devices and displays, our architectures focus on the efficient utilization and combination of the available client, server, and network resources. We present innovative solutions that incorporate methods for hybrid and distributed rendering as well as means to manage data sets and stream rendering results. We establish the browser as a promising platform for accessible and portable visualization services. We collaborated with experts from the medical field and the movie industry to evaluate the usability of our technology in real-world scenarios. The presented architectures achieve a wide coverage of display and rendering setups and at the same time share major components and concepts. Thus, they build a strong foundation for a unified system that supports a variety of use cases. Heutzutage existiert ein großer Anwendungsbereich für 3D-Grafikapplikationen wie wissenschaftliche Visualisierungen, 3D-Inhalte in Webseiten, und Unterhaltungssoftware. Gleichzeitig sind die Geräte und Plattformen, welche die Anwendungen ausführen und anzeigen, heterogener als je zuvor. Anzeigegeräte reichen von mobilen Geräten zu Desktop-Systemen bis hin zu verteilten Bildschirmumgebungen, die eine kollaborative Anwendung begünstigen. Während die Leistungsfähigkeit der Geräte stark schwanken kann, sollten die dort laufenden Visualisierungen konsistent sein. Das Anwendungsfeld sollte bestimmen, wie und auf welchem Gerät Benutzer auf die Anwendung zugreifen, nicht die technischen Voraussetzungen zur Erzeugung der 3D-Grafik. Das Ziel dieser Thesis ist es, die diversen Herausforderungen zu untersuchen, die bei der Bereitstellung von konsistenten und skalierbaren Visualisierungsanwendungen auf heterogenen Plattformen eine Rolle spielen. Während wir nicht die Vielzahl an möglichen Anwendungsfällen abdecken konnten, haben wir eine repräsentative Auswahl an Rendering-Architekturen in den Kernbereichen wissenschaftliche Visualisierung, web-basierte 3D-Anwendungen, und virtuelle Filmproduktion entwickelt. Um die geforderte Qualität, Leistung, und Skalierbarkeit für verschiedene Client-Geräte und -Anzeigen zu gewährleisten, fokussieren sich unsere Architekturen auf die effiziente Nutzung und Kombination der verfügbaren Client-, Server-, und Netzwerkressourcen. Wir präsentieren innovative Lösungen, die hybrides und verteiltes Rendering als auch das Verwalten der Datensätze und Streaming der 3D-Ausgabe umfassen. Wir etablieren den Web-Browser als vielversprechende Plattform für zugängliche und portierbare Visualisierungsdienste. Um die Verwendbarkeit unserer Technologie in realitätsnahen Szenarien zu testen, haben wir mit Experten aus der Medizin und Filmindustrie zusammengearbeitet. Unsere Architekturen erreichen eine umfassende Abdeckung von Anzeige- und Rendering-Szenarien und teilen sich gleichzeitig wesentliche Komponenten und Konzepte. Sie bilden daher eine starke Grundlage für ein einheitliches System, das eine Vielzahl an Anwendungsfällen unterstützt.

Cultural heritage artefacts act as a gateway helping people learn about their social traditions and history. However, preserving these artefacts faces many difficulties, including potential destruction or damage from global warming, wars and conflicts, and degradation from day-to-day use. In addition, artefacts can only be present in one place at a time, and many of them can not be exhibited due to the limited physical space of museums. The digital domain offers opportunities to capture and represent the form and texture of these artefacts and to overcome the previously mentioned constraints by allowing people to access and interact with them on multiple platforms (mobile devices, tablets and personal computers) and network regimes. Through two experiments we study the subjective perception of the fidelity of 3D models in web browsers in order to discover perceptible resolution thresholds. This helps us create models of reasonable graphical complexity that could be fetched on the biggest range of end devices. It also enables us to design systems which efficiently optimise the user experience by adapting their behaviour based upon user perception, model characteristics and digital infrastructure. Postprint

3D visualization in archaeology has become a suitable solution and effective instrument for the analysis, interpretation and communication of archaeological information. However, only few attempts have been made so far for understanding and evaluating the real impact that 3D imaging has on the discipline under its different forms (offline immersive and not immersive, and online platform). There is a need in archaeology and cultural heritage for a detailed analysis of the different infrastructural options that are available and a precise evaluation of the different impact that they can have in reshaping the discipline. To achieve this, it is important to develop new methodologies that consider the evaluation process as a fundamental and central part for assessing digital infrastructures. This new methods should include flexible evaluation approaches that can be adapted to the infrastructure that need to be assessed. This paper aims at providing some examples of 3D applications in archaeology and cultural heritage and describing how the selection of the infrastructure is related to specific needs of the project. This work will describe the different applications and propose guidelines and protocols for evaluating their impact within academia and the general public.

The Sant'Angelo cave church is an underground medieval Benedictine complex in the south of Italy, affected by serious structural and chemical degradation. In the context of a documentation campaign promoted by the local Superintendence and supported by the IPERIONCH. it project, we carried out an accurate 3D and photographic survey, and reconstructed a detailed 3D model of the site (encoding shape and colour). While the primary purpose of this large amount of collected data was to provide a metric documentation of the site, the completeness and the high detail of the survey suggested also a possible use for dissemination and virtual presentation. Thus, we exploited the 3D digital models to design and build a virtual visit of the church, oriented to scholars, museums and tourists. This paper describes the design and implementation of this educational experience, closely related to the bibliographic sources of the artistic heritage, fully enriched with hyper-textual information, intuitive and easy to use for all users regardless of their level of familiarity with the 3D medium.

The solid geometry of archaeological deposits is fundamental to the interpretation of their chronological sequence. However, such stratigraphic sequences are generally viewed as static two-dimensional diagrammatic representations which are difficult to manipulate or to relate to real layers. The ADS 3D Viewer is a web-based resource for the management and analysis of archaeological data. The viewer was developed to take advantage of recent developments in web technology, namely the adoption of WebGL (Web Graphics Library) by current web browsers. The ADS 3D Viewer combines the potential of the 3D Heritage Online Presenter (3DHOP), a software package for the web-based visualization of 3D geometries, with the infrastructure of the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) repository, in the attempt to create a platform for the visualization and analysis of 3D data archived by the ADS. Two versions of the viewer have been developed to answer the needs of different users. The first version, the Object Level 3D Viewer , was implemented to extend the browsing capability of ADS project archives by enabling the visualization of single 3D models. The second version, the Stratigraphy 3D Viewer , is an extension which allows the exploration of a specific kind of aggregated data: the multiple layers of an archaeological stratigraphic sequence. This allows those unable to participate directly in the fieldwork to access, analyse and re-interpret the archaeological context remotely. This has the potential to transform the discipline, allowing inter-disciplinary, cross-border and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows, and enabling easier access to and analysis of archaeological data.

Multi-User Virtual Worlds (MUVW) such as Open Wonderland and OpenSim have proved to be fruitful platforms for innovative educational practice, supporting exploratory learning and generating true engagement. However, when compared with the way educational activities have flourished through the use of the constantly evolving WWW, MUVW learning environments remain a relatively obscure niche. Since the advent and promise of Second Life more than twelve years ago there has been no critical mass reached and no movement towards standardisation. Concomitantly, the 3D Web has emerged as a recognisable if loosely defined concept. With the advent of technologies such as WebGL and a plethora of plug-in 3D viewers for web browsers, the question arises: will MUVWs converge with the 3D Web? If so, can existing educational content be migrated to the 3D Web for mass dissemination? The paper contributes a survey of 3D Web and MUVW terms, concepts, technologies and projects, illustrating their similarities, their value for education and discusses the likelihood of convergence. The survey is complemented by a cultural heritage case study of Unity 3D support for the deployment of virtual worlds in web browsers using two different approaches. Postprint

In the early 19th Century much of the Strath of Kildonan was cleared of its people who were replaced by sheep farming. This pattern was repeated across the Scottish Highlands. In 2013 Timespan, Helmsdale Heritage and Arts Centre, hosted a program of activities to mark the 200th anniversary of the Clearances. The centrepiece of these activities was a community excavation of the Caen township in the Strath of Kildonan. Based upon the evidence of that excavation a digital model of the township was created using the Virtual Time Travel Platform. The Virtual World of Caen can be explored as part of an installation in Timespans storytelling room. Visitors can experience what life would have been like in the Strath of Kildonan in 1813. This paper reports how the model has been deployed in different settings and on various digital platforms. These include showcasing the model at the Helmsdale Highland Games where visitors could explore the township of the past on stereo head mounted displays, or a Virtual Museum website that welcomes visitors from around the globe, as well as using Google Cardboard to allow visitors to explore Caen today, the virtual reconstruction of Caen simultaneously whilst on the site. Postprint

3D Heritage Online Presenter (3DHOP) is a framework for the creation of advanced web-based visual presentations of high-resolution 3D content. 3DHOP has been designed to cope with the specific needs of the Cultural Heritage (CH) field. By using multiresolution encoding, it is able to efficiently stream high-resolution 3D models (such as the sampled models usually employed in CH applications); it provides a series of ready-to-use templates and examples tailored for the presentation of CH artifacts; it interconnects the 3D visualization with the rest of the webpage DOM, making it possible to create integrated presentations schemes (3D + multimedia). In its design and development, we paid particular attention to three factors: easiness of use, smooth learning curve and performances. Thanks to its modular nature and a declarative-like setup, it is easy to learn, configure, and customize at different levels, depending on the programming skills of the user. This allows people with different background to always obtain the required power and flexibility from the framework. 3DHOP is written in JavaScript and it is based on the SpiderGL library, which employs the WebGL subset of HTML5, implementing plugin-free 3D rendering on many web browsers. In this paper we present the capabilities and characteristics of the 3DHOP framework, using different examples based on concrete projects.

Continuing advances and reduced costs in computational power, graphics processors and network bandwidth have led to 3D immersive multi-user virtual worlds becoming increasingly accessible while offering an improved and engaging Quality of Experience. At the same time the functionality of the World Wide Web continues to expand alongside the computing infrastructure it runs on and pages can now routinely accommodate many forms of interactive multimedia components as standard features - streaming video for example. Inevitably there is an emerging expectation that the Web will expand further to incorporate immersive 3D environments. This is exciting because humans are well adapted to operating in 3D environments and it is challenging because existing software and skill sets are focused around competencies in 2D Web applications. Open Simulator (OpenSim) is a freely available open source tool-kit that empowers users to create and deploy their own 3D environments in the same way that anyone can create and deploy a Web site. Its characteristics can be seen as a set of references as to how the 3D Web could be instantiated. This paper describes experiments carried out with OpenSim to better understand network and system issues, and presents experience in using OpenSim to develop and deliver applications for education and cultural heritage. Evaluation is based upon observations of these applications in use and measurements of systems both in the lab and in the wild. Postprint

5 págs, 5 figs.-- Publicado en 'El Profesional de la Información', vol. 17, n. 6, nov-dic 2008: "Redes sociales". [ES] Second Life es un entorno virtual en tres dimensiones que muchos consideran simplemente un juego pero que tiene enormes posibilidades para la enseñanza a distancia y la comunicación. Hay bibliotecas universitarias que están intentando aprovecharlo en este sentido; la de la Universidad Carlos III es una de ellas. En este artículo se presenta su proyecto, en el que pretende anticiparse a lo que muy probablemente sea la forma de presentación futura de la informaciónen internet: la Web 3D. [EN] Second Life is a three-dimensional virtual environment that many consider merely a game but it has enormous possibilities for e-learning and communication. There are academic libraries that are trying to take advantage of it; the Universidad Carlos III Library is one of them. This paper presents its project, with which it expects to anticipate that which very probably will be the future way of displaying information on the internet: 3D web. Publicado