Full XML documentation from photogrammetric survey to 3D visualization. The case study of shawbak in jordan.

International audienceThe paper presents an interdisciplinary project dealing with survey and documentation in medieval archaeology. The projectis led by two scientific partners: the CNRS MAP-GAMSAU of Marseilles (France) responsible for the photogrammetricsurvey and the web documentation, and the “Dipartimento di Studi storici e Geografici” (DSSG) of the University ofFlorence (Italy) responsible for the archaeological research. The case study is the Castle of Shawbak, traditionally known inhistorical reports as the “Crac de Montréal” in Jordan.2D and 3D models generation from photogrammetric data, user friendly matching of measurements and archaeologicalknowledge, XML usage as standard language for the whole project are the main innovative and interesting issues of thisresearch. More details on the above will be given in the present document. In the Survey stage two photogrammetric packages have been used. Photomodeler ™ is used to make the orientation,several hundred of photographs have to be oriented and this software is easy to use for archaeologists as well. Besides,ARPENTEUR ( chitectural hotogramm try etwork ool for d cation and esearch) is used to generate asurvey linked to archaeological data. A set of tools has been specifically developed in ARPENTEUR, based oncorrelation process and archaeological knowledge, in order to simplify the plotting stage and make it easy for a nonphotogrammetrist. The geometry of 3D models of measured objects, such as ashlars blocs and/or stratigraphic units, is achieved througharchaeological knowledge (several patterns of extrusion, mapping from photographs) and a set of textual data related toarchaeological analyses. The main purpose is the production of geometrical models that can work as interface to accessthe textual/archaeological dataset. The geographical distance between the two partners was actually the first reason for developing an XML based webplatform aimed at exchange and update the generated models. Due to the complexity of the matter, several interfaceshave been developed in order to create (purpose) a dynamic link between 2D or 3D representations and textual data. Thegeneral format for all the data in this project is XML. 2D images and vectors are generated in SVG (Scalable VectorGraphic is a XML representation for 2D data); 3D models are generated in X3D which is the XML upgrade of VRML;archaeological data are formalized in XML standard and the web site developed as an exchange platform is also entirelywritten in XML and XSL.This project is still under development and not yet fulfilled. After two photogrammetric campaigns in Jordan the first resultsare available on the web site: http://piccard.gamsau.archi.fr/Shawbak