Creating Interactive Landscapes with Multi-Method Modeling

Summary

Digital reconstructions and 3D modeling have become an increasingly frequent application in archaeology for the purposes of preservation and visualization. As part of the MayaCityBuilder Project, we are developing an immersive 3D environment of late eighth century Copan, Honduras that incorporates high-resolution base models and hypothetical reconstructions into an open-world environment. Our goal is to offer users opportunities to freely explore the models in context to their surroundings and provide linked archaeological information in the form of text, images, and maps. Using GIS and procedural modeling software (ArcMap, CityEngine) and 3D modeling programs (SketchUp, Blender), we integrate georeference 3D models of still-standing architecture with reconstructions of structures that no longer exist but have associated archaeological evidence. These 3D models are inputted into the Unity gaming engine to create an immersive environment embedded in lidar-generated terrain. Detailed documentation of the workflow and the use of procedural modeling allows the virtual reality environment to be updated with newly-acquired base models and test alternative reconstructions. As part of this process, we seek to develop a system that enables public participation in the form of annotation, photos, and other digital media.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage