Making the invisible visible - the international project 'VirtualArch - Visualize to Valorize'

0511474 - ARÚ 2020 CZ eng A - Abstract
Unger, Jiří - Dože-Marinić, R.
Making the invisible visible - the international project 'VirtualArch - Visualize to Valorize'.
Praha, 2019.
[Sense and sustainability. International conference on archaeology and tourism. 06.05.2019-10.05.2019, Zagreb]
Grant - others:European Union(XE) CE947
Program: Interreg
Institutional support: RVO:67985912
Keywords : archaeology * virtual reality * 3D computer reconstruction
OECD category: Archaeology

Many archaeological sites, especially those lying underground or submerged, are threatened by neglect as the public has limited awareness of their presence. New visualization methods, like virtual or augmented reality, could enhance the predicament - making the invisible visible, making the inaccessible accessible. In certain sense it is now possible to create a parallel virtual “heritage” layer within the analogue reality (the real world). Terms such as “virtual” or “augmented reality” therefore no longer represent a million light-years distant science fiction concept, but rather a new tool for public archaeology and tourism industry. The options how to present this kind of data will be discussed with focus on the utilisation of mobile applications, because the mass adoption of smart phones that have greater computing power than was needed to send the first man to the Moon, opens a whole new dimension of options for presenting archaeological data. The combination of the real and the virtual world, easily accessible through the phones display, enables leaving the PC monitor behind, and represents a unique opportunity to literally enjoy the knowledge available at archaeological sites directly in the field. Within the EU-funded project VirtualArch 10 partners from 8 Central European countries are testing and exploring innovative visualization approaches and methods on different heritage monuments. One of them is the roman harbour of Barbir, a submerged and almost unknown port located 12 km southeast of Zadar. Conducted surveys by the International Centre of Underwater Archaeology and a modern but sustainable on-site presentation offer new possibilities of tourism development in the Zadar region. The presentation will cover general information about the project followed by detailed information of the Croatian pilot site concerning the survey, results, virtual reconstruction, presentation and such, all regarding heritage protection, heritage promotion and touristic development.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0301754