Archeologia virtuale e supporti informatici nella ricostruzione di una domus di Pompei

The “domus del Centenario” is one of the largest houses in Pompei, and the focus of a far-reaching project of study and valorisation, based on an agreement between the Soprintendenza Archeologica of Pompei and the University of Bologna (Department of Archaeology). Its aim is to experiment with the use of a virtual reconstructive model to better contribute to both research and instructional aspects. An approach to build virtual environments for education in archaeology is described, in which many actors are involved. The required equipment, the professional skills and the related job planning issues are discussed. Virtual Archaeology products may be directed through many channels. Virtual sets, where real actors play in virtual reconstructions, offer new education opportunities to a large audience. PDA based interactivity enhances user-centric communication. The purpose of this paper is also to discuss a user-centric multichannel system, providing access to Virtual Archaeology based contents, both on-site and off-site; while the information base is shared, the interface devices are channel-specific and are calibrated to the fruition context. The system is called MUSE and is developed by a private company (DUCATI SISTEMI S.p.A.). The key system component is Whyre, an interactive and mobile device, designed to act as a personal virtual guide and to provide knowledge through words and images, on-site. Whyre technology is hidden behind its interface and shape: it carries inside a tiny PC-like computer equipped with a 3D-graphics accelerator and augmented with location detection sensors. It is wireless connected to a site server and is context-aware, so that only location and context relevant contents are submitted for the visitor’s attention. The display size is 6.4 inches and its resolution is 640x480 pixels. Several types of Virtual Archaeology based contents may be displayed. The paper reviews the Whyre architecture as well as the context production framework for the entire multichannel system. Eventually a visit experience with Whyre in Pompei, from Porta Marina to the “domus del Centenario”, is described, and the impact of delivering location-specific contents originated by virtual archaeological reconstructions is discussed