Combining GIS and 3D graphics to form a tool to empower digital visualizations on cultural heritage

Summarization: The main aim of this paper is to provide a methodology for the integration of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and 3D Graphic Software (3DGS) in order to form a useful tool for the construction of 3D Landscape mod- els. More specifically the combination of spatial information that can be recovered in great detail for landscape from GIS and its adaptation to 3DGS has the objective of the construction of 3D Landscape models. These models can reproduce in a very precise and detailed manner the topography of the landscape. Using digital geograph- ical data via GIS, three Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have been created which after necessary adaptations have been transferred into 3DGS. We will study the recovery of geographical data and the construction of 3D landscapes of small, medium and large scales. The processes and methodology of integrating the two technologies will be presented and analyzed reaching conclusions for sizes, formats but also the level of detail of the used files which aims at the optimization of the final result. Emphasis is given to their suitability according to the objective of their visualization but also the sources, demands and limitations that apply in each case. Finally, comments are made on the abilities that researchers obtain from the use of this integrated methodology for the documentation and description of sites of archaeological interest.Παρουσιάστηκε στο: 7th International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage VAS