Alonzo C. Addison

Virtual Heritage: Breathing new life into our ancient past

This special issue on virtual heritage features a survey on emerging trends in the field, articles on tools for building virtual heritage, applications of interpretive environments, and a look at whats next in virtual heritage.

Virtualized architectural heritage: new tools and techniques

Technology has come a long way in solving many of the early limitations of virtual reality (VR) and virtual worlds have quietly found growing acceptance in selected areas. However, issues of graphic quality and speed has dogged virtual world heritage developers, forcing simplistic representations and triggering criticism from the heritage community. In addition, until recently there was also a lack of inexpensive software and data standards (such as QuickTimeVR and Virtual Reality Modeling Language, or VRML) for creating visually realistic interactive environments. Although significant advances have been made, the accurate virtual representation of historic and cultural landmarks has been limited by a lack of tools to quickly, inexpensively, and accurately model reality. The representation of built heritage requires two distinct forms of 3D data, current, real-world conditions and virtual or theorized historical interpretations. We call the combination of the two forms virtualized as opposed to virtual. Despite the use of numerous measurement technologies in traditional heritage work, existing tools lacked the optimal mix of features required for virtualized architectural environments. Dissatisfied with available choices. We began an extensive analysis of available technologies. In this article, we review results in heritage projects with two emerging systems.

Digital tools for heritage information management and protection: the need of training

This paper is aimed at demonstrating the need of training material for the design and deployment of cultural heritage resource information systems in management and protection. Heritage information plays an essential role in the adequate preparation, implementation and monitoring of conservation strategies. Good decisions in conservation are based on the information available and, in this sense, the use of information systems are needed for providing timely and relevant collection, storage, management and presentation of cultural heritage.

Computer graphics for architecture and design presentations: current work and trends outside the U.S.

graphics techniques for design communication and visualization in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) and related design industries. Since there is a great deal of interesting and innovative work being done outside the United States in the area (and with relatively little U.S. exposure), this panel is focused on a few of these international efforts. Architecture is but a small subset of the much larger field of design, and the trends and work being done are in many ways representative of the broader domain. Despite the formal training of all of the panelists in architectural design and the focus of the discussion upon architecture and engineering, the panel should be of interest and value to educators, researchers, software developers, and marketers in the AEC field and those interested in practical and innovative uses of computer graphics presentation techniques outside the U.S. For years computer-aided design, or “CAD” has been the primary focus of computerization efforts (and funding) among design firms throughout the world. Recently however, as computer graphic visualization and presentation tools have matured, there has been a growing trend to utilize the computer as more than just a drafting tool. Thus, the panel presentations and discussion will steer away from traditional CAD and focus in on rendering, animation, and multimedia in the AEC field. Each panelist will briefly present the current state-of-the-art in their respective country and area and their vision for where their respective fields are heading. The presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion (and opportunity for audience participation) of how the usage in each region and field parallels or perhaps differs from work in the United States. The panelists come from a broad slice of the world market. Representing a large AEC firm, a small multimedia house, an architectural presentation service bureau, and research and education, they bring multiple viewpoints, cultures, and perspectives to the discussion. Although each is involved with innovative or unique presentation and visualization work, it is valuable to note that each is also interested and involved with research focusing on moving computer usage in the design profession beyond mere presentation graphics.