ADS 3D Viewer: an example of open 3D real-time visualization system in archaeology

Summary

In this paper I will present ADS 3D Viewer, a project designed to develop a 3D real-time system for the management and analysis of archaeological data. The main aim of this interactive application is to give users the ability to access archaeological data to ground-truth interpretations. Thanks to the ADS 3D Viewer, in fact, multiple experts will share and analyse 3D replicas of the archaeological excavation record, which can be revisited and subject to new analytical techniques over the long term.

In the past ten years 3D technology in archaeology has become a strong tool to support the communication and recording of cultural heritage. However, its efficacy for data analysis and interpretation has not yet been fully tested. The 3D viewer is being developed as a tool for the ADS (Archaeology Data Service), a major UK-based cyber-infrastructure hosted at the University of York. This paper will discuss specific case studies that will help clarify the potential of the 3D viewer.

The possibility to share complex 3D models of archaeological sites and monuments, and the interpretations made by archaeologists during the excavation process, on the web, will promote discussion between scholars and represents a significant opportunity for the discipline.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Open methods in archaeology: how to encourage reproducible research as the default practice

Keywords

Spatial Coverage