Simplifying Documentation of Digital Reconstruction Processes

Abstract

Digital reconstruction is becoming ever more common in archaeology, architecture and other disciplines. Lost, but also present structures are being visualized to enhance the understanding of a reconstructed object and point out historical and constructional relationships of the objects under consideration. Furthermore, the process of reconstruction leads to an aggregation of knowledge, becoming a substantial part of historical research. However, such projects usually lack a proper, traceable, rigorously applied – therefore valuable – documentation practice. In the final reconstruction of the object the references to its sources may only be known to the experts involved in the project. Those not involved in the reconstruction project may not be able to understand this relationship. Research into documentation practice has until now typically concentrated on theoretical approaches; effective tools are still missing. The authors propose a documentation tool for use in 3D reconstruction projects to support frequent tasks in digital reconstruction processes. The tool aims mainly to facilitate documentation and development processes in such a way that the input of data becomes simple and intuitive. The benefit of this work becomes apparent to all stakeholders. The proposed tool aims to be both, a collaboration platform and a research environment, complying with metadata standards and guidelines, such as the London Charter principles. Drawing on the authors’ experience of applying the tool to reconstruction of historic buildings, abstract concepts for a wider range of reconstruction tools are presented.