Jona SCHLEGEL | Kelly GILLIKIN | Arie KAI-BROWNE | Thomas SCHENK
(Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, Vienna, Austria)

Keywords: geophysical prospection, image-based modeling, virtual archaeology, reconstruction, aging process

Abstract:
2016 and 2017 students of the University of Applied Science Berlin and the Süleyman Demirel University collected 12 ha of geomagnetic data and 0,5 ha of ground penetrating data and took around 10,000 pictures for image-based modeling at an ancient mound fortification in Central Anatolia (Turkey). The selected area for a detailed reconstruction and visualization of the decay process is a Roman delicacies market (Macellum), located at the archaeological site of Seleukeia Sidera. Various methods produce multiple types of data from the area. An intensive field survey provides data for a rough temporal classification. Geomagnetic measurements yield a position of features and offer insight into the material properties. Ground penetrating radar data provides information about the dimensions as well as the depth of the features under the surface. Image-based modeling creates an extremely accurate topographical model. With this data a detailed current state of the documented area is mapped. These results provide a basis for a visualization of the Macellum, whereby neighboring sites such as Sagalassos and knowledge of Roman construction style also influence the recreation of the architectural design. The resulting digital model and interpreted results from geophysical and topographical data are artificially aged over a period of 2000 years. The properties of the building materials and the environmental conditions at the site are used for the simulation of the decay process. First of all, the market is visualized at various stages, showing the different aging states. Then diffuse, normal and specular maps are used to create the appropriate textures. Finally, the model is loaded after its reconstruction in a game engine and a shader used to visualize its different states. This poster presents a pipeline of data collection, processing and presentation using state-of-the-art, innovative visualization methods.