Realidad Aumentada y virtualización 3D de ciudades para la gestión y divulgación del patrimonio cultural enterrado y en superficie

One of the hot topics of computer graphics investigation in the last years is the use of augmented virtual reality techniques for storage, preservation and dissemination of the historical and cultural heritage. In this context we present the work made by the Workshop School in New Technologies of Santander in the specialty “Systems Information Management, GIS and 3D modeling Heritage”. The project consisted of three-dimensional virtualization cultural areas of Santander via reverse engineering, image processing and machine vision. In order to simulate the historical evolution of a city, it is necessary to represent first the current state as a base and from that representation to go back in time, the study of its urban areas and their evolution is facilitated by knowing the use and position of the historical buildings and their dynamics. Three-dimensional modeling provides an excellent tool to represent or simulate the constructive development of the city. The most adequate model for this type of collaboration is the virtual reality model acquired through successive digital camera and laser scanner shots with a high amount of overlapping joints between takes. In addition to using the information obtained from the images, the composition of the 3D models was achieved by applying reverse engineering and analysis of augmented reality elements with the objective of obtaining smart models for application in the areas of tourism promotion and interpretation of the historical and cultural heritage