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Integration and (Re)Use of Digital Data in a Geomatics-Virtual Reality Workflow for Heritage Site Virtual Reconstruction: the Case of Tiwanaku UNESCO Site, Bolivia

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Extended Reality (XR Salento 2024)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 15029))

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Abstract

The evolution of digitisation technologies and the growing transition to the digital age have reshaped the cultural heritage landscape, expanding possibilities beyond digital documentation or additionally immersive interactive experiences. This transition has also fostered innovative approaches for the (re)use of cultural heritage digital data. This paper proposes an integrated approach of digital and virtual technologies, by effectively integrating and (re)using different available digital data with the final aim of reconstructing a selected portion of the Tiwanaku UNESCO complex in a Virtual Environment, with work still in progress. The research methodology involved gathering 2D and 3D digital products for the 3D modeling of two areas within Tiwanaku, namely the Kalasasaya and the Semi-Subterranean temples, and the 3D reconstruction of their monuments. Finally, all the reconstructed elements were integrated into a Virtual Environment where the virtual experience goes beyond mere site navigation. It provides an immersive and interactive heritage learning experience through object interaction, historical context storytelling, and also offers a unique opportunity to imagine how the an-cient city of Tiwanaku looked like by introducing some 3D-reconstructed monuments to the modeled site in their original configuration and position.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The term “available data” refers to data that already exists and is accessible being collected by DICAM geomatic group, whereas “open-source data” refers to data acquired online.

  2. 2.

    https://cast.uark.edu/.

  3. 3.

    https://core.tdar.org/.

  4. 4.

    https://tiwanaku.gob.bo/.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements are due to the Tiwanaku Museum for allowing the 3D survey of some manufacts, to the CAST team of the University of Arkansas for the open access to the TLS point clouds of Kalasasaya and the Semi-subterranean temple, and to Prof. Alexei Vranich for a fruitful discussion. The experience was partially realized in the framework of the project AlmaAugmented by the University of Bologna for the use of VR in academic contexts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering Department, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    Ashraquet Bastawrous, Anna Forte & Gabriele Bitelli

  2. Museo Antonini, Avenue La Cultura 600, Nasca (Ica), Peru

    Giuseppe Orefici

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  1. Ashraquet Bastawrous
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  2. Anna Forte
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  4. Gabriele Bitelli
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Correspondence to Ashraquet Bastawrous .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Salento, Lecce, Italy

    Lucio Tommaso De Paolis

  2. University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Pasquale Arpaia

  3. CNR-STIIMA, Lecco, Italy

    Marco Sacco

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Bastawrous, A., Forte, A., Orefici, G., Bitelli, G. (2024). Integration and (Re)Use of Digital Data in a Geomatics-Virtual Reality Workflow for Heritage Site Virtual Reconstruction: the Case of Tiwanaku UNESCO Site, Bolivia. In: De Paolis, L.T., Arpaia, P., Sacco, M. (eds) Extended Reality. XR Salento 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 15029. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71710-9_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71710-9_17

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