ViSMan: an Open-Source Visualization Framework for Virtual Reconstructions and Data Management in Archaeology

Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing some case-studies in Virtual Archaeology where 3d reconstructions have been used as a tool for visualization and spatial organization of structured archaeological data. ViSMan (Visual Scenarios MANager) is an open source framework developed at Cineca for the visualization of scientific virtual environments. It has been applied to several Virtual Archaeology projects, thus allowing advanced 3d visualization features, switching between models, and linking to external contents such as images, text files, web urls; data linked through the models are visualized by the user in a new frame, overlapping or separated from the browser. 1. VisArq. 1.0 is an online geo-database of the archaeological heritage of the area around Zaragoza, Spain; the whole territory is visualized in ViSMan as a 3d DEM (Digital Elevation Model); the model displays the distribution of archaeological sites for which some kind of external reference is available; access is provided to different types of data by means of interactive HTML pages. 2: DHER-ViSMan application (running off-line) encloses both photo-realistic and schematic reconstructions of roman houses in Herculaneum, and explores different levels of data, ranging from the regional area to a single wall-painting; each model contains ''Nodes'', which provide access to a rich archive of data, managed through a relational database.