3D visual information and GIS technologies for paintings’ documentation in the M Sepulchre in the Vatican Necropolis

Introduction

The Vatican Necropolis

The M Sepulchre

Microtopographic survey

3D Arm

Thermal Infrared Analysis

GIS

VRML

Gradoc index

VRML reconstruction

The Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML), is a 3D modelling language for virtual reality applications using 3D scenes. On the basis of the definition of the VRML consortium, VRML is an open standard for 3D virtual and multimedia worlds, connected and linked by Internet. In December 1997, VRML has been classified as an international standard (ISO/IEC-14772-1:1997) from ISO (International Standard Organisation) and from the International Electrotechnical Commission.

So, the VRML was created in order to permit a standard access on the web to interactive virtual environments; in fact, in a few years, it has become the most used language for the representation of 3D scenes on line. Furthermore the new powerful versions of VRML (2.0 and VRML97) allow specific tools for animations and interactions with the users, very important in the field of virtual reality.

Furthermore in our project, after the GIS applications, we completed the 3D reconstruction of the tomb in VRML (fig.10), so that the whole monument could be explored in real time, including textures (foto-mosaics of the walls) and geometry.

The VRML model can be visualised using freeware browsers that can be downloaded from the Internet; to view our reconstruction we use Cosmo Player (created by Silicon Graphics, http://www.cai.com/cosmo/). In this way the access to VRML models is open to everybody. For instance the 3D models were created and explored using Cosmo Player 2.1 (Silicon Graphics) as browser. Using the virtual console of the browser, and visualising the model, it is possible to move forward and back, turn left and right, tilt up and down, seeking, sliding, and so on. The interaction in real time and a user friendly interface allows us to describe the model as a cognitive model: in fact during the virtual navigation we perceive new information and new ways of visualisation, without the need to have GIS software for representing the data.

Click on this image for visualising the VRML models

Perspectives of the project

• 3D Data acquisition; new tools of 2D-3D data-acquisition through the use of a digital pantograph (Microscribe arm) have shown great potentialities for micro-topological graphic documentation, mainly in situations where it is difficult to operate with other systems.

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• 3D Visual Information by GIS application and spatial analyses. The creation of a visual information system (in our case GIS) has involved a different approach in the graphic representation of mural paintings. A dynamic visual modelling can open new perspectives in the study, the analysis and the scientific communication of paintings’ documentation.

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• 3D Multilayered analysis. The combination and the overlay of different sources of data increase the level of knowledge of the site on the basis of data-crossing; that is a more advanced interpretation depends on the superimposition of referenced data.

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• Monitoring of the monument through time. For monuments such as the Cristo Sole tomb, it is fundamental to monitor the state of conservation, mainly analysing all the factors of alteration (chemical, physical, architectonic) in a multilayered visualisation (with the superimposition of graphic information).

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• 3D Virtual reconstruction. By assembling every 3D component we have the possibility to visualise and study the model through an interactive and full visualisation, in particular excluding the difficulties existing in real views on site.

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• Next possible processing concern the creation of a complete 3D database of the Vatican Necropolis with further information layers of non-destructive chemical-physical analyses.