Teleimmersive 3D collaborative environment for cyberarchaeology

Abstract

We present a prototype collaborative application for archaeology that allows archeologists from remote locations to interact in real time with 3D archeological models through a shared virtual environment using teleimmersive technology. At each location, a set of stereo cameras captures 3D video of the user in real time to create his/her avatar. The 3D data is sent over the network to the remote location where it is integrated and rendered in the shared virtual environment. The teleimmersive aspect of this work provides a novel approach to interaction and interpretation of 3D archeological models by facilitating immersive experience in collaborative setting of remote users. The framework is aimed to facilitate in the future the study and analysis of a virtual reconstruction process in archaeology with the help from virtual community to re-contextualize and reassemble spatial archaeological data.