Abstract
Abstract. Nowadays, there are rapid developments in the fields of photogrammetry, laser scanning, computer vision and robotics, together aiming to provide highly accurate 3D data that is useful for various applications. In recent years, various LiDAR and image-based techniques have been investigated for 3D modelling because of their opportunities for fast and accurate model generation. For cultural heritage preservation and the representation of objects that are important for tourism and their interactive visualization, 3D models are highly effective and intuitive for present-day users who have stringent requirements and high expectations. Depending on the complexity of the objects for the specific case, various technological methods can be applied. The selected objects in this particular research are located in Bulgaria – a country with thousands of years of history and cultural heritage dating back to ancient civilizations. \\this motivates the preservation, visualisation and recreation of undoubtedly valuable historical and architectural objects and places, which has always been a serious challenge for specialists in the field of cultural heritage. In the present research, comparative analyses regarding principles and technological processes needed for 3D modelling and visualization are presented. The recent problems, efforts and developments in interactive representation of precious objects and places in Bulgaria are presented. Three technologies based on real projects are described: (1) image-based modelling using a non-metric hand-held camera; (2) 3D visualization based on spherical panoramic images; (3) and 3D geometric and photorealistic modelling based on architectural CAD drawings. Their suitability for web-based visualization are demonstrated and compared. Moreover the possibilities for integration with additional information such as interactive maps, satellite imagery, sound, video and specific information for the objects are described. This comparative study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these three approaches and their integration in multiple domains, such as web-based 3D city modelling, tourism and architectural 3D visualization. It was concluded that image-based modelling and panoramic visualisation are simple, fast and effective techniques suitable for simultaneous virtual representation of many objects. However, additional measurements or CAD information will be beneficial for obtaining higher accuracy.
Highlights
Some of the problems that specialists face regarding 3D modelling of cultural heritage objects are the proper selection of technology for image acquisition and post-processing, automation of the image-matching procedure, the visual and metric quality of the final product and proper documentation
Rapid technological developments in the fields of photogrammetry, laser scanning, computer vision and robotics can be seen, and some of these techniques are nowadays commonly used for the visualisation and archiving of cultural heritage objects. 3D models have proved to be valuable for virtual tourism, digital documentation in case of damage and photorealistic representation, urban planning and 3D archives
The results indicated that high-resolution spherical panoramas integrated in a web-portal with other types of information can be successfully used for the interactive representation of important historical monuments, architectural objects and cultural places of interest
Summary
Some of the problems that specialists face regarding 3D modelling of cultural heritage objects are the proper selection of technology for image acquisition and post-processing, automation of the image-matching procedure, the visual and metric quality of the final product and proper documentation. These problems and challenges provide the overarching motivation for the current research. An impressive evolution has been observed in the creation of 3D digital models of objects, buildings and cities and their virtual representation. The selection of the most suitable and effective technology is strongly related to the specific requirements of each project, its budget and the experience of the users
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