3D Laser Scanning and Virtual Reconstructions,

their integration as research and educational tools

for representing the past. Case study: the Virtual
Roman Baths of Edeta

Vito Porcelli, Fernando Cotino Villa, Josep Blasco i Senabre, Vicent Escriv Torres, Julian
Esteban Chapapra

Please add affiliations

Abstract:
In the last few years 3D laser scanning techniques have been used more frequently as a means for
recording archaeological evidence. By contrast, 3D reconstructions, more often than not, serve purely
educational purposes, and their efficiency for scientific analysis is disregarded. A combination of the two
approaches supports the likely transition of the virtual reproductions; extending them to the interest of
varied categories of users. This paper puts an emphasis on the process of reconstructing the Roman Baths
of Edeta, Llria. It shows the capabilities of the 3D Laser scanning approach of using accurate digital
data derived from the real evidence and the restoration of the different locations and shapes of the feature
during the past. Additionally, 3D virtual reconstruction is used to further analyse the site and, eventually,
be used to extend the general publics knowledge of its cultural heritage through highly realistic images.

Keywords:
3D Laser Scanning, 3D Modelling, Edeta, Point Cloud, Roman Baths, Llria

1. Introduction this technology as well as other significant digital

Computer Graphics has completely converted
the traditional archaeological recording system.
Currently, Digital Archaeology would be the
best term to refer to it (Earl et al 2012). Whether
the information concerns spatial data or physical
remains, drawings or pictures of the sites, they are
archived and processed as digital information.
Thanks to the scholars involved in the process
of preservation and conservation of the site, the
archaeological data derived from the Roman Baths
of Edeta have been recorded following this digital
methodology. The work has culminated with the
introduction of realistic virtual restoration of
the edifices, principally focusing on educational
purposes.
The hypothetical restoration has been
generated taking advantage of accurate spatial data
captured through 3D Laser Scanning. The use of
Corresponding author: porcelli.v@gmail.com
information of the site, has likely turned realistic
3D virtual models of Roman buildings into useful
data. In fact, the visualisations might be appreciated
not just by amateurs of history or inexpert users,
but also by scientists involved in the analysis of the
archaeological evidence.
Virtual development of raw geometry,
traditionally recorded using photogrammetry, CAD
drawings or even 3D Laser Scanning, has never
been performed without criticism by experts (Lock
2003). However, visual representations as drawings
or paintings of ancient buildings have often been
produced to support the conservation of cultural
heritage. Examples of them might be seen in several
old publications, even though most of them were
produced for public dissemination. The 3D virtual
model of the Roman Baths of Edeta, together with all
the recent virtual reconstructions of archaeological
sites, should be considered as a transition from
those 2D sheets to a modern approach for recording,
measuring and visualising information in a 3D

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Figure 1. Photograph. Current view of the Roman Baths
of Edeta. The cella of the temple (on the left) and the
Basilica Thermarum are shown. Photograph coming
from the archive of the project.
virtual world.
2. Edeta, the Iberian and Roman Village
Llria is a small village of 20.000 inhabitants
lying on the river Turias plain, approximately 25km
northwest of Valencia (Spain).
On the nearby hill, next to the village Tossal
de Sant Miquel, the Iberian settlement (Pre-Roman)
continued to develop and expand from the VIII
century BC. until the II BC. In the course of the I
century BC. the new Iberian village was founded on
the river Turias plain and took the name of Edeta,
already conveying Roman influences. Afterwards,
in the Augustan Age, it was converted into a
Municipium under the Latin Rights (Ius Latinum).
During the rest of the Roman Empire, the village was
expanded until it covered more than 20.000m. This
extension included the central area of the oracular
sanctuary and the baths (Escriv Torres and Vidal
Ferrs 1995:238). In the late phase of the empire
this important area began to be neglected. The
ground was reoccupied during the Visigothic Age,
whereupon a monastery was built and consequently
abandoned from the second half of the VII century
AD onwards.
The first excavation campaigns began in the last
century, during the 70s, discovering the sanctuary
with the lateral Aedicula and part of the Hospitium.
Subsequently, the excavations restarted in the 90s
and in 1994 the male and female baths were found.
The male baths were extensively excavated, with the
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Figure 2. Photograph. Current northern view of the
Hypocaustum of the Caldarium. Photograph coming
from the archive of the project.
full structure revealed during the actual excavation
campaign. The next step for work at this site, regards
the minor female baths, which will be excavated and
analysed in the coming years (Escriv Torres and
Vidal Ferrs 1995:238-239).
The male Roman baths consist of stairs off
of the public street for access into the Basilica
Thermarum. This building was composed of two
floors with a portico surrounding a central atrium
and a small Taberna on the northern side (Fig. 1).
On the eastern side a central door allowed access
into the other rooms, in the following sequence:
Apodyterium changing room, Frigidarium cold
pool, Destrictarium or Unctorium cold room,
Laconicum dry sweating room and finally, the
Caldarium hot room. This latter room was arranged
with a labrum basin containing cold water, in the
apse and opposite to it an Alveus long warmed
pool, next to high windows positioned at the shortest
northern wall. Between the Apodyterium and the
Caldarium, on the northern side, there was the
Praefurnium, the central structure for the heating
system of the rooms. The level of conservation is
excellent, above all, zones of the hypocausts, in
particular the one beneath the Caldarium (Fig. 2).
In the last few years, thanks to a desire to
improve and preserve the facilities in the urban area
of Llria, a project of restoration and consolidation
of the Roman buildings has been carried out. As
a result, the area has been thoroughly analysed,
recorded and is currently being converted into
a museum. The attractive room dedicated to the
visitors will include videos, panels and an interactive
3DLaserScanningandVirtualReconstructions,theirintegrationasresearchandeducationaltoolsforrepresentingthepast.Casestudy:theVirtualRomanBathsofEdeta
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Figure 3. Image. View in SCENE of the point cloud of the
significant finds recorded with 3D Laser Scanning. The
shown green sphere is a common point used for matching
the others captured point clouds.
virtual 3D model of the Roman Baths, along with
other devices designed to test augmented reality of
the archaeological remains.
3. Data Acquisition
The data used for the project has been
acquired during the last years utilising different
methods which reflect the new technologies and
methodologies in archaeology, computer science
and topography.
The 3D reconstruction of the Roman Baths
has certainly been the main purpose of the entire
project. However, given other subsequent aims,
such as the future production of rendered images
and virtual animations, the model could not be
composed of a large amount of polygons, rather it
needed to be particularly light to remain easy to
handle in the future.
To make a distinction between the two 3D
objects, the one generated from 3D Laser Scanning
and the other modelled with low resolution polygons
in 3dsMAX, this paper introduces the term of
3D mesh. This term is a standard one, generally
applied to both types of object, signifying a simple
3D cube as well as a 3D model generated by means
of point clouds and often, consisting of millions of
faces. In this case, to avoid misunderstandings, the
term 3D mesh will be cited exclusively for the high
Figure 4. Orthophoto. Plan of the Caldarium produced
with photogrammetry. Data coming from the archive of
the project.
resolution meshes from 3D Laser Scanning.
With regard to the 3D Laser Scanning of the
site, the point clouds have been captured using the
3D Laser Scanner FARO FOCUS 3D. It is compact
and light, capturing up to 976.000 points/sec and
reaching a distance up to 120m. Though these
values are dependent on the features of the objects
captured, the area and the atmospheric conditions.
The point clouds were concentrated on the zone
of the male Roman Bath and the external Temple,
along with some adjacent buildings. In addition, a
significant amount of archaeological finds in 3D has
been digitally stored, recognising amongst them:
capitals, portions of columns, cornices and stones
from the collapsed naves of the buildings (Fig. 3).
The 3D meshes are extremely useful for
producing a 3D virtual reconstruction. They
precisely represent geometric information of the
archaeological features and often have helped with
the complete restoration of small objects. Many
studies have focused on these kinds of projects and
have ended with high resolution results, therefore
large optimisation of the meshes is not needed
(Patay Horvath 2011). These meshes might also
represent large sites and used as base-plan for
restoring hypothetic upper shapes. Nevertheless,
in order to easily handle them, particularly in this
case, they have to be optimised. This process still
takes much more time than starting the model from
scratch, as, for instance, using simple 2D extruded
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polygons. And, furthermore a capitals. Another example is the restoration of the

significant reduction of the resolution frame surrounding the monumental gate accessing
implies, in any case, loss of spatial the baths.
information. Hence, this paper will
describe alternative uses of them, The recreated shapes of the perimeter walls
explained in detail in the following are undoubtedly correct, as they have been extruded
paragraphs. from the plans derived from 3D scans. However, the
height of the restored walls mainly depends on the
The 3D Laser Scanning has kind of stones employed in the past, on the Roman
been contemporary with the 3D techniques applied, which kept transforming during
reconstruction of the site. Hence, the centuries and also, on similar and contemporary
the data collected has not been buildings.
entirely used to elaborate the solids Figure 5. Image. View of the reconstructed Basilica Thermarum in Figure 6. Photograph. The internal view of the Caldarium
in 3D. In association, general photos, wireframe. Hypothetic relocation of the 3D meshes of a cornice and its One of the main issues have obviously of the Forum Baths in Pompeii. The Caldarium of the
photogrammetry and CAD plans textured view in MeshLab. concerned the height of the structures, whether Forum Baths. Pompeii Interactive. Accessed November
recorded during previous excavation they had to follow, the example of the Forum Baths 20, 2011. Available from. http.//www.pompeii.co.uk/
campaigns have supported the 3D reconstruction coming from other paralleled archaeological sites, in Pompeii still well conserved insitu and of the CDROM/FBATH/FRAMES/F9-11.HTM.
process, occupying a secondary position. The CAD In particular, Pompeii, Perga and Herculaneum. same age. Its barrel vault of the Caldarium, clearly
plans were drawn from the digital orthophotos. Furthermore, academic publications concerning the shows width and height of the building having equal
The original low-range aerial photos were acquired Roman architecture have been consulted, with the measures. In fact, the barrel vault is of the height
and ortho-rectified using common points identified intent of knowing and understanding it as much as of the building (Fig. 6). The first hypothesis made
with coloured pins placed on the terrain. Apart from possible. Among them, the analysis and research for the Caldarium of the Baths of Edeta is shown
their use for mapping and matching the photos, the conducted by Peter Connolly, Stefano Giuntoli and in figure 7 and followed this rule. Alternatively,
pins were placed in order to record their real spatial Maurizio Martinelli (Connolly 1994, Giuntoli and restoring its barrel vault in accordance with the
position in the global coordinate system using a Martinelli 1989). classic architectural proportions transmitted by
Total Station. In this case, the Universal Transverse Vitruvius, suggesting a proportion of 1/3 (Vitruvius
Mercator coordinate system. (Fig. 4). Therefore, 4. Methodology of the Digital Pollio 1761: V). Finally, this latter proportion has
in the few zones where 3D Laser Scanning was not Reconstructions been adopted for all the principal buildings, given
yet used, the 3D objects have been modelled from that the contemporary Roman baths in Perga Figure 7. Rendered Image. Southern view of the first
the polylines manually drawn in CAD system from 4.1 Spatial interpretation (Turkey) shows the same typology of stones of Edeta reconstructive hypothesis of the Caldarium in 3dsMAX,
the orthophotos. Those produced in the described and respect Vitruvius proportion rules. These have showing the passage from wireframe to textured 3D
manner still conserve signs of human error, The 3D reconstruction of the Roman Baths of been useful for restoring the temple nearby too model. In this reconstruction the height of the barrel vault
completely removed by means of the digital process Lliria has been mainly achieved thanks to the experts (Vitruvius Pollio 1761: IV). matches the height of the lateral walls.
performed by the 3D Laser Scanner. Nevertheless, involved in the project. They helped understanding
the high resolution orthophotos remain useful to the archaeological remains preserved in the area The comparisons with surviving details
identify characteristics of the field or to quickly and respecting the limits set by the interpretation of conserved in others sites or with the measurements
measure distances on the plan in CAD or in a scaled the ancient architecture. cited by Vitruvius have been essential. They have
printed version. regarded several 3D objects in the scene, such as,
The 3D scans of the archaeological remains the arrangement of the beams on the first floor in
As detailed, the visual imagery including have been relocated in the virtual reconstruction, the Basilica Thermarum, the dimension and the
orthophotos and standard photos, supply a visual to make hypothesis of their likely ancient position shape of the storage shelves in the Apodyterium
aid in the 3D reconstruction. For this reason, and to support rebuilding the collapsed structures. or for example, other details as the labrum in the
several other pictures have been captured in the For instance, the size of some stones discovered Caldarium (Fig. 8), or the wooden benches located
archaeological site to support the project. They allow in the Hypocaustum of the Caldarium, useful to inside of it.
volumetric analysis of the building, recognising reconstruct the barrel vault. The ancient cornices
some existent features on the ground and on the supporting the beams of the first floor in the Basilica The existence of some others elements instead,
walls. They are also helpful to elaborate textures Thermarum, retrieving both the dimensions of the is confirmed looking at the remains conserved Figure 8. Photograph. View of a Labrum conserved
subsequently applied on the 3D model. beams and the distance among them (one cubitus), insitu, such as the parapets among the columns or in Herculaneum. Ercolano Scavi Archeologici.
suggesting a bipedalis floor (Fig. 5). Additionally, the boiler system of the warmed pool. However, Universit degli Studi di Napoli. Accessed November
Finally, to support the 3D reconstructions, other the height of its columns, composing and matching when the archaeological information have been 19, 2011. Available from. http.//www.ercolano.unina.it/
archives have been obtained. Such as, photographs together their 3D meshes with their bases and not enough to reconstruct these elements or when fotoErcolano/tdf_27.jpg

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others descriptions coming from ancient epigraphic
data have been difficult to be found, the 3D solids
have been mainly modelled following the drawings
and the illustrations included in the Connellys
(1994) and Giuntolis (1989) publications.
4.2 The software
The virtual reconstruction of the Roman
Baths of Llria, has been carried out by means
of different software, specifically dedicated to
3D data management. Every task has generally
its appropriate software. Currently, most of the
Software-houses are expanding their adaptability,
with the objective of using only one application
to cover different fields of the Computer Graphics
and to compete against their business rivals. For
instance, using only one platform to manage data
from 3D Laser Scanning, modelling in low polygons
and modify raster 2D images at the same time.
However, for this project, every step has been
processed with specific software, which better and
quicker could process the digital information. With
concern to the 3D Laser Scanning, the management
and the matching of the point clouds have been
performed in SCENE, software released by FARO.
Whilst, MeshLab has been used for generating and
optimising the 3D meshes as well as geo-referencing
them. To produce the 3D virtual reconstruction, 3ds
MAX 2009 has been the main software employed,
with occasional utilisation of DraftSight for CAD
data and REALWORKS by TRIMBLE, especially,
prior the modelling process, to retrieve information
from the point clouds. Eventually, the open-source
software GIMP has been utilised to manage the 2D
raster images.
4.3 3D modelling
The capability of 3D Laser Scanning to
support reconstructing the buildings is practically
shown in the modelling process. Recovering spatial
information from the 3D meshes and comparing
them with the 3D reconstruction, to make sure
the hypothesis respects approximately the original
evidence.
In order to record the entire site, 43 point
clouds have been captured, setting 4mm as an
average distance among the points. Small polystyrene
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Figure 9. Image. View of a general point cloud
showing the Caldarium, the Praefurnium and part of
the Laconicum (on the right). The shown point cloud
contained approximately 53,500,000 of points.
spheres have been used to mark the common points
within the point clouds. After performing this task
in the program SCENE, the point clouds have been
imported into MeshLab., The point clouds have been
cleaned from unnecessary noise, then optimised and
joined, creating a general point cloud representing
the archaeological site of Llria (Fig. 9). The general
point cloud has been georeferenced using the UTM
coordinates of three known points recorded during
the scanning process. They have been converted into
a 3D mesh, digitally stored and ready for further
utilisations.
In addition to the 3D Laser Scanning of the
site, as above written, the project has also concerned
the creation of a digital database of specific remains.
Hence, about 660 significant finds have been three-
dimensionally captured and transformed into 3D
meshes, approaching in the same described manner,
though turning upside down the objects to capture
their back-faces (Fig. 3).
The future purpose of the virtual reconstruction
implies the elaboration of a 3D model, with a polygon
count sustainable for the rendering engine (Mental
Ray), with an attempt to not exceed 1,000,000
polygons. The utilisation of the high resolution
point clouds could have increased this value. On the
other hand, in the case the point clouds were fairly
reduced to respect the parameters, difficultly, they
could still show the original shape in some detail,
producing loss of data. In any case, many perimeter
walls might be represented with squared shapes
3DLaserScanningandVirtualReconstructions,theirintegrationasresearchandeducationaltoolsforrepresentingthepast.Casestudy:theVirtualRomanBathsofEdeta
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Figure 11. Rendered Image. Passage from high to low
polygon 3D model in 3dsMAX. On the left the 3D mesh of
the base of a column located in the Basilica Thermarum
Figure 10. Image. Point cloud of the Basilica Thermarum.
recorded with 3D Laser Scanning. On the centre and on
Drawing of the polylines in CAD.
the right, the wireframe and the textured restored 3D
composed of few vertexes, enhanced by textures and model.
easily renderable.
The quickest and easiest way applied to take
advantage of the 3D meshes and at the same time
to minimise the polygon count have principally
been two. Firstly, by means of the projection of
2D orthophotos raster images of the point clouds
in REALWORKS, in order to better recognise the
contour lines of plans and subsequently, importing
them into a CAD system to draw polylines
(Alshawabkeh 2005: 44).
Secondly, and especially for others details
challenging to be projected, directly importing the
point cloud as DXF format in DraftSight (Fig. 10). Figure 12. Rendered Image. Southern view of the
The polylines have been subsequently extruded reconstructed Caldarium. Visual comparison of the
in 3ds MAX to recreate the main volumes. The structures visualised as wireframe and textured 3D
usefulness of the point cloud is represented with its models associated with the 3D mesh of the site.
points extended three-dimensionally and showing
already the location of the features in the 3D space
(Alvaro 2009: 7).
There were a large number of small 3D meshes
which had an extremely high spatial resolution,
composing approximately 350,000 polygons each.
This indicates that an approach similar to the 3D
scans of the general area could be more effective.
A good example would be extruding the most
appropriate lines that match the profiles of the 3D
meshes of the cornices or the capitals of the columns
and rotating or extruding them by 360 degrees
(Kampel and Sablatnig 2003) (Fig. 11). Figure 13. Rendered Image. Northern view of the
reconstructed Basilica Thermarum. Visual comparison of
A final comparison of the 3D mesh of the the structures visualised as wireframe and textured 3D
entire site with the final reconstructed 3D model has models associated with the 3D mesh of the site.
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simulations. They are also directly adapted for the
rendering engine and others virtual atmospheric
conditions, such as: lights, reflections and
refractions. Furthermore, some of the maps have
been elaborated with the intent of reconstructing
colours still preserved insitu; for instance, those
of the columns or the virtual restoration of the
paintings still conserved on the walls of the Basilica
Thermarum (Figs 14 and 15).
been tested in the whole reconstruction process.
Recovering measurements for restoring the ancient
structures, making assumptions about the original
location of the remains and finally, comparing the
general data to make sure the reconstruction fits the
real archaeological evidence.

5. Visualisations of the Virtual Roman

Baths

Figure 15. Image. Texture applied on the 3D model of
the Basilica Thermarum. Hypothesis restored from the
archaeological evidence.
been performed, considering the possible existing
discrepancies. Since the solids representing the 3D
mesh have been intensely minimised and given the
employment of orthophotos to create some of them
too. This has been carried out superimposing the 3D
data in 3ds MAX, observing carefully the differences
among the surfaces and adjusting the 3D solids
when required (Figs 12 and 13).
The aesthetic enhancements of the Roman
baths and the holy area, especially the furniture
and some decorations, have been modelled
with minor scientific techniques. Nevertheless,
always attempting to respect the known Roman
measurements and looking for information through
the cited publications upon Roman architectural
styles.
The photographs have helped with numerous
aspects of the virtual reconstructions. In the
modelling process, they have been necessary as
aid to understand better the volumes and the
features still preserved in the site. The 3D meshes,
sometimes store useless details of solids, which can
be appreciated only acquiring real pictures for the
specific purpose. An example is the Hypocaustum
of the Caldarium and the Laconicum, where
interpreting the 3D scans of the complex system of
conducts and arcs has been extremely complicated.
Such as described, the pictures of others
archaeological sites have supported for replicating
objects partially disappeared in Llria (Fig. 8).
Eventually, some high quality photos have
Figure 14. Photograph. Current view of the remaining
walls conserved in the Basilica Thermarum. Detail of the
paintings. Photograph coming from the archive of the
project.
been utilised to recover information about colours
and patterns of surfaces, subsequently creating
textures applied on the virtual Roman buildings.
4.4 The mapping process
Normally, textures occupy an important role
for generating 3D virtual models. In the video-game
industry, they often replace the presence of solids in
the scene to accelerate the rendering process.
In this reconstruction, the aim has mainly
been the scientific elaboration of 3D buildings,
highlighting the likely architecture more than its
likely ancient colours. As a result, the materials and
their included textures have been secondary in this
simulation, even because, they mostly depend on
the type of final rendering. Generally, they are also
strictly related to the software used for producing
the virtual images.
Therefore, the materials have been procedurals
for most of the structures, which are prearranged
by the software in terms of textures and physical
The rendered images have not been produced
as specific final products to be shown in the museum
yet, since the project is still on-going. The final
purpose is a public display using a transparent touch
screen device. This will allow a virtual navigation in
the archaeological site as currently is, together with
the possibility of generating 3D buildings on the top Figure 16. Rendered Image. Virtual Reconstruction
of it, by means of the virtual reconstruction modelled produced with Mental Ray in 3ds MAX. Southern internal
and described in this paper. These elements will view of the Caldarium.
be supported with textual explanations of the area
visited.
These will be located in the visitors hall, in
front of high window glasses displaying the real
archaeological remains. The opening date of the
museum is scheduled for March 2013.
The rendering process has been mainly
arranged for testing the materials applied on the 3D
model as well as testing the geometry. Several images
have been calculated throughout the modelling step Figure 17. Rendered Image. Virtual Reconstruction
in Mental Ray, setting up illumination, exposure produced with Mental Ray in 3ds MAX. Southern external
and other effects according to the type of images view of the male Roman Baths and of the holy area.
desired (Fig. 16, 17, 18).
The virtual reconstruction is dynamic, just
like our interpretation of the past, thus it will
always be ready for updating with new ideas or
new information discovered. These could consist
of virtual images associated to brochures of the
museum, videos, and future real time rendering for
extensive interactivity.
6. Analysing the Results
Figure 18. Rendered Image. Virtual Reconstruction
In this project, 3D Laser Scanning easily produced with Mental Ray in 3ds MAX. North-eastern
shows its importance as a tool for recording spatial external view of the male Roman Baths and of the holy
archaeological information. Its efficiency has area.

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Figure 19. Rendered Image. Virtual Reconstruction
produced with Mental Ray in 3ds MAX. Entrance to the
Roman Baths. Hypothetic relocation of an element of the
ancient frame, captured with 3D Laser Scanning. On the
right, its textured view in MeshLab.
The point clouds are extremely accurate,
depending on the 3D Laser Scanner and its settings.
However, this precision implies negative aspects as
well. Dust is quite often captured by the scanning
equipment, causing anomalies in the architecture of
certain objects. The archaeological site was not an
excellent working area as excavation was still under
way, causing dirt and dust to be scattered into the
air, and on surrounding surfaces. Furthermore,
atmospheric conditions, such as wind and rain,
could be held responsible for disturbing the process.
All these conditions can bring the production of
noise in the point clouds, meaning more time in the
laboratory creating more refined 3D meshes.
Traditional Total Stations can become tedious
when there are numerous points which need to be
recorded. 3D laser scanners can obtain these points
with a fraction of the time and effort. The only issue
with the use of a scanner in this project concerns the
co-ordinate system of the general point cloud, as
the scanner utilised does not provide an integrated
Total Station. This problem was overcome by
transforming the point clouds or 3D meshes using
three points previously geo-referenced with the
Trimble VX Spatial Station. This enables the ability
to georeference 3D points with a minimum standard
deviation of 10mm at 150m.
The software currently in use permits an
intense optimisation of the shapes but requires
time, and can result in a loss of a small amount of
data. This loss of data has encouraged the use of
polylines that match the sections and plans of 3D
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Figure 20. Rendered Image. Virtual Reconstruction
produced with Mental Ray in 3ds MAX. The Basilica
Thermarum and the Taberna. Hypothetic relocation of
the base of a column, captured with 3D Laser Scanning.
On the top, its textured view in MeshLab.
meshes. Millions of points can then be controlled
and reduced to only a handful of data if needed,
minimising the surfaces which are then present in
a 3D model. This can reduce rendering time, size
of files and increase performance on interactive
software equipment.
The use of 3D laser scanning in this project has
been important in the virtual reconstruction of the
hypocaustum. The shapes of the remaining arches
and their location have been utilised for restoring
those that have collapsed. Virtual reconstructions
of the arches are then included over the tops of the
marks shown in the orthophoto, thus complementing
and completing the laser scanned model (Fig. 12).
An interesting discovery in terms of
visualisation has been the restoration of the small
archaeological remains, such as the Tuscan order
capitals of the columns located in the Basilica
Thermarum. This operation has been hard to
achieve with a small recorded capital showing
a poorly conserved Corinthian order, due to the
intricate pattern of the decorated acanthus leaves.
The restoration of the surviving cornices has been
treated in the same manner, by extruding the
sections of their longitudinal curves previously
recovered from the 3D meshes.
All the digital information has been correctly
georeferenced, positioning the real coordinate point
30s 706458.96 4389550.93 100 UTM at the 0 0 0
UCS in 3ds MAX and processing on a one to one
scale. Both 3D meshes and the 3D reconstructions
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are comparable to each other. This technique has
been successful in identifying zones or details left
out during the reconstruction.
The parts in the virtual reconstruction that
represent missing data are based on the epigraphic
data and contemporary structures. This data was
acquired by architects and archaeologists with
specific skill sets. An accurate model was then
reconstructed with principal ideas focussed upon
an interactive virtual model which will be available
to the general public. An example is shown in
Figures 19 and 20, where the 3D meshes and the
3D objects have been superimposed onto original
data in rendered images. This will assist in testing
the hypothetical locations of the finds and also to
arrange a likely way of visiting the museum.
The discussions among experts to achieve a
correct restoration have significantly slowed down
the modelling process, but this is essential to create
an accurate reconstruction and to set appropriate
measurements. Originally, the average height of
the male Roman Bath was estimated to be 7.5m,
but eventually it was decided a more accurate
measurement of 12.5m. This is due to several reasons.
These reasons include rendered images with the
introduced daylight system, and most importantly,
measurements from similar foundations in Perga.
The daylight system has been arranged at
the pre-set time 12:00pm, while a Physical Sky
has been used as a shader, with CIE Clear Sky as
a virtual sky model to assist the calculation of the
brightness in the scene. The closed perimeter of the
Basilica Thermarum with only one door accessing
the outside Palestra demonstrates that the diffusion
of light inside of it had to be significantly low. This
is due to the fact that the opened arches of the first
floor had to be located at about 5.50m, above the
upper pediment sustained by the columns. The
next high walls of the Apodyterium on the east and
the northern rooms located on the first floor of the
Basilica had to further reduce the contribution of
light in the ground floor. An example is shown in
Figure 20.
According to the rendered images the global
illumination of the other structures had to be affected,
especially at floor level. In the Apodytherium, a
semicircular window with a diameter of 7.70m has
been opened on the southern wall (Fig. 18), matching
the size of the barrel vault and extending the shape
of a previous hypothesis. Following a similar idea,
trapezoidal windows have been adapted to the
rendered environment of the Laconicum and the
apse of the Caldarium (Fig. 16). However, even if
the illumination system has somewhat influenced
shapes and sizes of some details, it has occupied a
secondary position in the reconstruction process.
7. Conclusion and Outlook
Recently, the utilisation of 3D Laser
scanners for archaeological survey has increased,
converting these devices into fundamental tools
in the field. The digital storage of accurate 3D
spatial information allows infinite further scientific
analysis and application. 3D virtual reconstructions
and simulations of the past shall still be developed,
as they veil immeasurable potentialities for visually
supporting the researchers and educating the public.
The capability of 3D Laser scanning in archaeology
and its ability to add more scientific appearances to
3D reconstructed ancient environments has been
exhaustively tested throughout this project.
With regards to the Roman Buildings of Edeta,
the area is still under research, implying difficulties
for a correct virtual restoration of the structures,
both in terms of new finds discovered and new
assumptions made. Furthermore, there are still some
areas which need to be excavated in the future, such
as the female baths. This might bring new ideas and
transform the proportions of the actual 3D model as
well. As a consequence, the virtual reconstruction is
a dynamic object, always ready to be reviewed and
improved with new features.
To conclude, the Comunitat Valenciana is
rich in traditions, history and art. The promotion
of the knowledge of the village of Llria and the
dissemination of its worldwide cultural heritage
by means of new graphic technologies is truly
appreciable. The restoration of archaeological
remain using virtual technologies is still one of the
most effective ways for the public to understand
the past. Digital reconstructions elaborated by the
scientific community with an analytical approach,
elevates the quality of the virtual immersion into the
past. Researchers are allowed to make infinite and
invasiveness modifications of the virtual structures.
143
 CAA2012 Proceedings of the 40th Conference in Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology,
Southampton, United Kingdom, 26-30 March 2012
Acknowledgments
This project has been financed and supported
by the Generalitat Valenciana Conselleria de
Turisme, Cultura i Esport. We are grateful to all
members of the Department of Architecture working
on the project, especially to Elisa Moliner Cantos,
Ivn Garca Miana and Patricia Calvo Corts.
Fieldwork and laboratory analysis have been
conducted by the Museu Arqueolgic de Llria
MALL, particularly by the archaeologists Carmen
Martnez Camps and Xavier Vidal Ferrs. A special
thanks to Carles Jordi Grau Gimnez, who has
collaborated with the interpretation of the plans of
the Roman Bath.
The Graphic Department of Global Geomtica
has provided and elaborated the digital data. The
photogrammetry and the 3D Laser Scanning have
been produced thanks to the assistance of Rafael
Tortosa Garca, scar Aparicio Gonzlez, Luis
Gimeno Martnez, David Martnez Imedio, Andrea
Vilaplana Sells and Josep Gimeno Marzal.
Finally, we acknowledge Tom Brughmans,
Nicholas Martin Burrell and Elizabeth Richley for
their collaboration in the editing process.
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