Documenting Bronze Age Akrotiri on Thera using laser scanning, image-based modelling and geophysical prospection

The excavated architecture of the exceptional prehistoric site of Akrotiri on the Greek island of Thera/Santorini is endangered by gradual decay, damage due to accidents, and seismic shocks, being located on an active volcano in an earthquake-prone area. Therefore, in 2013 and 2014 a digital documentation project has been conducted with support of the National Geographic Society in order to generate a detailed digital model of Akrotiri’s architecture using terrestrial laser scanning and image-based modeling. Additionally, non-invasive geophysical prospection has been tested in order to investigate its potential to explore and map yet buried archaeological remains. This article describes the project and the generated results

From the ice age to the present – an audiovisual and tactile model of the G\uf6ta River Valley in Western Sweden

This paper describes a project in progress dealing with visualization and mediation of archaeological and cultural heritageinformation by integrating digital tools in a museum exhibition. In the project an interactive, combined digital and physical modelrepresenting the G\uf6ta river valley in south-western Sweden is developed. The objective is to utilize audiovisual and tactileinformation to illustrate the historical development of the region and to communicate historical knowledge in a museumenvironment in an innovative manner. Although the project is directed to all museum visitors, the focus audience consists of youngstudents and visually impaired. The model comprises three parts: an animation, an audio track, and a tactile model. The animation,together with the audio track, illustrates the landscape development of the valley from the ice age until present. The animations arebased on spatial data and calculations for land uplift and shoreline-displacement. The tactile model functions as a background for theprojection of the audiovisual component and as communication interface to the visually impaired through a number of uniquesurface finishes. A first version of the digital model was installed at L\uf6d\uf6se Museum at the end of 2007. Late 2008 the combinedmodel will be inaugurated and an evaluation of the visitors’ perception of the model initiated. Feedback has been gainedcontinuously from museum staff and visually impaired, which has influenced the production of the final model. The results of thestudy will improve knowledge about the impact of digital applications within archaeology and the cultural heritage sector

Piloting Time-Tours: Experiences from the Development and Implementation of a Computer Based Exhibition in West Sweden

This paper presents and discusses the work and objectives developed within the project Digital Time-travels: New strategies for archaeology and cultural heritage management? The work is focused on the development of new methods for the presentation and publication of archaeological data, particularly the use and effectiveness of digital methods for the presentation of archaeological information to the public. This involves cooperation with museums and other institutions as well as the general public to develop useful and meaningful models of past landscapes and site-contexts with the purpose of augmenting and stimulating public awareness of archaeological remains. The paper present our work with models visualizing landscape development and with the design and construction of an interactive interface for mediation and communication of archaeological information through computer-terminals installed as part of museum displays, and through the Internet. The project is funded by the Swedish National Heritage Board and is organized as a joint venture between the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Gothenburg University, the Department of Architecture at Chalmers University of Technology and the Department of Soil Sciences at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Piloting Time-Tours: Experiences from the Development and Implementation of a Computer Based Exhibition in West Sweden

This paper presents and discusses the work and objectives developed within the project Digital Time-travels: New strategies for archaeology and cultural heritage management?The work is focused on the development of new methods for the presentation and publication of archaeological data, particularly the use and effectiveness of digital methods for the presentation of archaeological information to the public. This involves cooperation with museums and other institutions as well as the general public to develop useful and meaningful models of past landscapes and site-contexts with the purpose of augmenting and stimulating public awareness of archaeological remains. The paper present our work with models visualizing landscape development and with the design and construction of an interactive interface for mediation and communication of archaeological information through computer-terminals installed as part of museum displays, and through the Internet.The project is funded by the Swedish National Heritage Board and is organized as a joint venture between the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Gothenburg University, the Department of Architecture at Chalmers University of Technology and the Department of Soil Sciences at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

On the line between Fact and Fiction: Tools and procedures for digital mediation in Cultural Heritage Management

This paper presents and discusses the work and objectives developed within the ongo-ing project Digital Time-travels: New strategies for archaeology and cultural heritage management?The work is focused on the development of new methods for the presentation and publication of archaeological data, particularly the use and effectiveness of digital methods for the presentation of archaeological information to the public. This in-volves cooperation with museums and other institutions as well as with the general public to develop useful and meaningful models of past landscapes and site-contexts with the purpose of augmenting and stimulating public awareness of archaeological remains. This paper presents our work with models visualizing landscape develop-ment and with the design and construction of an interactive interface for mediation and communication of archaeological information through computer-terminals in-stalled as part of museum displays, and through the Internet.The project is funded by the Swedish National Heritage Board and is organized as a joint venture between the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Goth-enburg University, the Department of Architecture at Chalmers University of Tech-nology and the Department of Soil Sciences at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Digital Time-Travels: Communicating Historical GIS and TGIS-Information in Museum Environments

The Digital Time Travels Project is an interdisciplinary, collaborative initiative which seeks to develop and evaluate new methods for the distribution and representation of digital archaeological information to the public. Toward that end, the project has developed two tools for museum and online use:The first is a physical, tactile model of the G\uf6ta \uc4lv river valley in western Sweden, which has been combined with an overhead projector that project a TGIS-based animation of the valleys natural and cultural landscape development from roughly 12500 BP to the present onto the surface of the model. The model is designed to be touched, with various components such as archaeological sites, shoreline locations, and land elevation changes represented by different textures which are also intended to make the model more accessible to the visually impaired.Secondly, a computer application which uses GIS data, 3D scans of archaeological objects, 3D reconstructions and animations of past sites and landscapes to present information about the past in an interactive, multilingual format via touch screen interfaces as well as on the World Wide Web (web).Both the museum exhibit and the web application are under evaluation in order to determine how they are used and how to improve them. In this presentation we outline the development of these tools, evaluate their use, and discuss future plans for their improvement.The museum exhibition opened at L\uf6d\uf6se Museum, in the center of the G\uf6ta River Valley on June 13th 2009, and a web version of the computer application will later become available through the project website