As one of the most promising technologies for next-generation mobile platforms, Augmented Reality... more As one of the most promising technologies for next-generation mobile platforms, Augmented Reality (AR) has the potential to radically change the way users interact with real environments enriched with various digital information. To achieve this potential, it is of fundamental importance to track and maintain accurate registration between real and computer-generated objects. Thus, it is crucially important to assess tracking capabilities. In this paper, we present a benchmark evaluation of the tracking performances of some of the most popular AR handheld devices, which can be regarded as a representative set of devices for sale in the global market. In particular, eight different next-gen devices including smartphones and tablets were considered. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory by adopting an external tracking system. The experimental methodology consisted of three main stages: calibration, data acquisition, and data evaluation. The results of the experimentation showed t...
Latest Developments in Reality-Based 3D Surveying and Modelling, 2018
The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a resource with huge, but yet largely unexploit... more The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a resource with huge, but yet largely unexploited, potentials for the maritime and coastal tourism. In the last 10 years, national and international government authorities are supporting and strengthening research activities and development strategies, plans and policies to make underwater archaeological sites' exploitation more sustainable and accessible to large-scale tourism. To this end, the paper presents an outcome of the Virtual and augmented exploitation of Submerged Archaeological Sites (VISAS) project that allows users to explore underwater archaeological sites. In particular, the virtual diving system combines the advantages offered by Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and the latest three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques to create virtual tours for the exploitation of the UCH. User studies' results demonstrate that the proposed VR system is able to provide a playful learning experience, with a high emotional impact, and it has been well appreciated by a large variety of audiences, even by younger and inexperienced users.
The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a vast historical and scientific resource that,... more The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a vast historical and scientific resource that, often, is not accessible to the general public due the environment and depth where it is located. Digital technologies (Virtual Museums, Virtual Guides and Virtual Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage) provide a unique opportunity for digital accessibility to both scholars and general public, interested in having a better grasp of underwater sites and maritime archaeology. This paper presents the architecture and the first results of the Horizon 2020 iMARECULTURE (Advanced VR, iMmersive Serious Games and Augmented REality as Tools to Raise Awareness and Access to European Underwater CULTURal heritage) project that aims to develop and integrate digital technologies for supporting the wide public in acquiring knowledge about UCH. A Virtual Reality (VR) system will be developed to allow users to visit the underwater sites through the use of Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) or digital holographi...
The paper describes the pilot activity conducted in the contest of BLUEMED project to create an i... more The paper describes the pilot activity conducted in the contest of BLUEMED project to create an interactive virtual scenario of the underwater site of the Peristera Shipwreck. The wreck lies just off the coast of Peristera, an uninhabited island located at about half nautical mile from Alonissos (Northern Sporades), at a depth of about 22-28 meters. The applied methodology, based on the combined use of optical and acoustic technologies, enables the chance to provide a high-quality digital 3D reconstruction of large-scale and complex underwater scenarios. This digital model represents the starting key element from which a Virtual Reality (VR) system has been developed. The VR system will be accessible to the general public, as well as researchers and archaeologists, inside a Knowledge Awareness Center located in the town of Alonissos
The paper presents the MOLUX project which aims to design and develop a system capable of support... more The paper presents the MOLUX project which aims to design and develop a system capable of supporting the underwater operators by means of innovative technologies for the diagnosis, recovery, management, conservation, and valorization of the archaeological and naturalistic assets in the marine environment. This system allows to increase the efficiency and the safety of the operations carried out in the underwater environment thanks to its capabilities: to make the diver aware of his/her position; to acquire geolocated data (images, videos, notes, environmental parameters); to optimize and monitor the planned dive route.
Documentation and conservation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) are crucial to preserving hu... more Documentation and conservation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) are crucial to preserving humankind’s history and traditions, safeguarding tangible testimonies of past human life while ensuring its accessibility to future generations. The TECTONIC (Technological Consortium TO develop sustainability of underwater Cultural Heritage) project is promoting an intersectoral collaboration between academic and non-academic professionals (i.e., archaeologists, conservators, geologists, engineers, etc.) working on different topics related to UCHs, to find solutions to the issues still existing in the field. The overall aim is the exchange of skills for the improvement and assessment of innovative materials and techniques to develop solutions and marketable products for the conservation and management of the UCH, sustainably. To achieve its overall aim, TECTONIC is undertaking activities driven by the following objectives: (a) the study, documentation, and mapping of selected UCHs; (b) th...
In this study, we present a framework for seagrass habitat mapping in shallow (5–50 m) and very s... more In this study, we present a framework for seagrass habitat mapping in shallow (5–50 m) and very shallow water (0–5 m) by combining acoustic, optical data and Object-based Image classification. The combination of satellite multispectral images-acquired from 2017 to 2019, together with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photomosaic maps, high-resolution multibeam bathymetry/backscatter and underwater photogrammetry data, provided insights on the short-term characterization and distribution of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 meadows in the Calabrian Tyrrhenian Sea. We used a supervised Object-based Image Analysis (OBIA) processing and classification technique to create a high-resolution thematic distribution map of P. oceanica meadows from multibeam bathymetry, backscatter data, drone photogrammetry and multispectral images that can be used as a model for classification of marine and coastal areas. As a part of this work, within the SIC CARLIT project, a field application was carried o...
Among the activities planned for the MUSAS Project, the digital reconstruction of the underwater ... more Among the activities planned for the MUSAS Project, the digital reconstruction of the underwater sites constitutes a particular challenge, requiring strong cooperation between archaeologists and technicians. The case of the Villa dei Pisoni in Baiae, one of the richest in the Phlaegrean territory, is particularly interesting: the architectural remains, already documented in the 1980s and now inserted in one of the diving spots of the Underwater Park of Baiae, are disseminated on a huge surface, including quays, thermal complexes, a fishpond, and a large, luxurious viridarium. The effort required for the digital reconstruction of the ancient villa improved the previous knowledge and the lack of documentation even in a well-known site. In this paper, we will retrace the long path from the 3D reconstruction of the archaeological remains to the virtual architectural model of the villa, the numerous challenges, doubts, and uncertainties in the creation of the original spaces, and the sup...
3D models of submerged structures and underwater archaeological finds are widely used in various ... more 3D models of submerged structures and underwater archaeological finds are widely used in various and different applications, such as monitoring, analysis, dissemination, and inspection. Underwater environments are characterised by poor visibility conditions and the presence of marine flora and fauna. Consequently, the adoption of passive optical techniques for the 3D reconstruction of underwater scenarios is a highly challenging task.This article presents a performance analysis conducted on a multi-view technique that is commonly used in air in order to highlight its limits in the underwater environment and then provide guidelines for the accurate modelling of a submerged site in poor visibility conditions. A performance analysis has been performed by comparing different image enhancement algorithms, and the results have been adopted to reconstruct an area of 40 m2 at a depth of about 5 m at the underwater archaeological site of Baiae (Italy).
ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2017
The paper presents the application of the technologies and methods defined in the VISAS project f... more The paper presents the application of the technologies and methods defined in the VISAS project for the case study of the underwater archaeological site of Cala Minnola located in the island of Levanzo, in the archipelago of the Aegadian Islands (Sicily, Italy). The VISAS project (http://visas-project.eu) aims to improve the responsible and sustainable exploitation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by means the development of new methods and technologies including an innovative virtual tour of the submerged archaeological sites. <br><br> In particular, the paper describes the 3D reconstruction of the underwater archaeological site of Cala Minnola and focus on the development of the virtual scene for its visualization and exploitation. The virtual dive of the underwater archaeological site allows users to live a recreational and educational experience by receiving historical, archaeological and biological information about the submerged exhibits, the flora and fauna of ...
As one of the most promising technologies for next-generation mobile platforms, Augmented Reality... more As one of the most promising technologies for next-generation mobile platforms, Augmented Reality (AR) has the potential to radically change the way users interact with real environments enriched with various digital information. To achieve this potential, it is of fundamental importance to track and maintain accurate registration between real and computer-generated objects. Thus, it is crucially important to assess tracking capabilities. In this paper, we present a benchmark evaluation of the tracking performances of some of the most popular AR handheld devices, which can be regarded as a representative set of devices for sale in the global market. In particular, eight different next-gen devices including smartphones and tablets were considered. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory by adopting an external tracking system. The experimental methodology consisted of three main stages: calibration, data acquisition, and data evaluation. The results of the experimentation showed t...
Latest Developments in Reality-Based 3D Surveying and Modelling, 2018
The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a resource with huge, but yet largely unexploit... more The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a resource with huge, but yet largely unexploited, potentials for the maritime and coastal tourism. In the last 10 years, national and international government authorities are supporting and strengthening research activities and development strategies, plans and policies to make underwater archaeological sites&#39; exploitation more sustainable and accessible to large-scale tourism. To this end, the paper presents an outcome of the Virtual and augmented exploitation of Submerged Archaeological Sites (VISAS) project that allows users to explore underwater archaeological sites. In particular, the virtual diving system combines the advantages offered by Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and the latest three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques to create virtual tours for the exploitation of the UCH. User studies&#39; results demonstrate that the proposed VR system is able to provide a playful learning experience, with a high emotional impact, and it has been well appreciated by a large variety of audiences, even by younger and inexperienced users.
The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a vast historical and scientific resource that,... more The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a vast historical and scientific resource that, often, is not accessible to the general public due the environment and depth where it is located. Digital technologies (Virtual Museums, Virtual Guides and Virtual Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage) provide a unique opportunity for digital accessibility to both scholars and general public, interested in having a better grasp of underwater sites and maritime archaeology. This paper presents the architecture and the first results of the Horizon 2020 iMARECULTURE (Advanced VR, iMmersive Serious Games and Augmented REality as Tools to Raise Awareness and Access to European Underwater CULTURal heritage) project that aims to develop and integrate digital technologies for supporting the wide public in acquiring knowledge about UCH. A Virtual Reality (VR) system will be developed to allow users to visit the underwater sites through the use of Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) or digital holographi...
The paper describes the pilot activity conducted in the contest of BLUEMED project to create an i... more The paper describes the pilot activity conducted in the contest of BLUEMED project to create an interactive virtual scenario of the underwater site of the Peristera Shipwreck. The wreck lies just off the coast of Peristera, an uninhabited island located at about half nautical mile from Alonissos (Northern Sporades), at a depth of about 22-28 meters. The applied methodology, based on the combined use of optical and acoustic technologies, enables the chance to provide a high-quality digital 3D reconstruction of large-scale and complex underwater scenarios. This digital model represents the starting key element from which a Virtual Reality (VR) system has been developed. The VR system will be accessible to the general public, as well as researchers and archaeologists, inside a Knowledge Awareness Center located in the town of Alonissos
The paper presents the MOLUX project which aims to design and develop a system capable of support... more The paper presents the MOLUX project which aims to design and develop a system capable of supporting the underwater operators by means of innovative technologies for the diagnosis, recovery, management, conservation, and valorization of the archaeological and naturalistic assets in the marine environment. This system allows to increase the efficiency and the safety of the operations carried out in the underwater environment thanks to its capabilities: to make the diver aware of his/her position; to acquire geolocated data (images, videos, notes, environmental parameters); to optimize and monitor the planned dive route.
Documentation and conservation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) are crucial to preserving hu... more Documentation and conservation of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) are crucial to preserving humankind’s history and traditions, safeguarding tangible testimonies of past human life while ensuring its accessibility to future generations. The TECTONIC (Technological Consortium TO develop sustainability of underwater Cultural Heritage) project is promoting an intersectoral collaboration between academic and non-academic professionals (i.e., archaeologists, conservators, geologists, engineers, etc.) working on different topics related to UCHs, to find solutions to the issues still existing in the field. The overall aim is the exchange of skills for the improvement and assessment of innovative materials and techniques to develop solutions and marketable products for the conservation and management of the UCH, sustainably. To achieve its overall aim, TECTONIC is undertaking activities driven by the following objectives: (a) the study, documentation, and mapping of selected UCHs; (b) th...
In this study, we present a framework for seagrass habitat mapping in shallow (5–50 m) and very s... more In this study, we present a framework for seagrass habitat mapping in shallow (5–50 m) and very shallow water (0–5 m) by combining acoustic, optical data and Object-based Image classification. The combination of satellite multispectral images-acquired from 2017 to 2019, together with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photomosaic maps, high-resolution multibeam bathymetry/backscatter and underwater photogrammetry data, provided insights on the short-term characterization and distribution of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 meadows in the Calabrian Tyrrhenian Sea. We used a supervised Object-based Image Analysis (OBIA) processing and classification technique to create a high-resolution thematic distribution map of P. oceanica meadows from multibeam bathymetry, backscatter data, drone photogrammetry and multispectral images that can be used as a model for classification of marine and coastal areas. As a part of this work, within the SIC CARLIT project, a field application was carried o...
Among the activities planned for the MUSAS Project, the digital reconstruction of the underwater ... more Among the activities planned for the MUSAS Project, the digital reconstruction of the underwater sites constitutes a particular challenge, requiring strong cooperation between archaeologists and technicians. The case of the Villa dei Pisoni in Baiae, one of the richest in the Phlaegrean territory, is particularly interesting: the architectural remains, already documented in the 1980s and now inserted in one of the diving spots of the Underwater Park of Baiae, are disseminated on a huge surface, including quays, thermal complexes, a fishpond, and a large, luxurious viridarium. The effort required for the digital reconstruction of the ancient villa improved the previous knowledge and the lack of documentation even in a well-known site. In this paper, we will retrace the long path from the 3D reconstruction of the archaeological remains to the virtual architectural model of the villa, the numerous challenges, doubts, and uncertainties in the creation of the original spaces, and the sup...
3D models of submerged structures and underwater archaeological finds are widely used in various ... more 3D models of submerged structures and underwater archaeological finds are widely used in various and different applications, such as monitoring, analysis, dissemination, and inspection. Underwater environments are characterised by poor visibility conditions and the presence of marine flora and fauna. Consequently, the adoption of passive optical techniques for the 3D reconstruction of underwater scenarios is a highly challenging task.This article presents a performance analysis conducted on a multi-view technique that is commonly used in air in order to highlight its limits in the underwater environment and then provide guidelines for the accurate modelling of a submerged site in poor visibility conditions. A performance analysis has been performed by comparing different image enhancement algorithms, and the results have been adopted to reconstruct an area of 40 m2 at a depth of about 5 m at the underwater archaeological site of Baiae (Italy).
ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2017
The paper presents the application of the technologies and methods defined in the VISAS project f... more The paper presents the application of the technologies and methods defined in the VISAS project for the case study of the underwater archaeological site of Cala Minnola located in the island of Levanzo, in the archipelago of the Aegadian Islands (Sicily, Italy). The VISAS project (http://visas-project.eu) aims to improve the responsible and sustainable exploitation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by means the development of new methods and technologies including an innovative virtual tour of the submerged archaeological sites. <br><br> In particular, the paper describes the 3D reconstruction of the underwater archaeological site of Cala Minnola and focus on the development of the virtual scene for its visualization and exploitation. The virtual dive of the underwater archaeological site allows users to live a recreational and educational experience by receiving historical, archaeological and biological information about the submerged exhibits, the flora and fauna of ...
The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a resource with huge, but yet largely unexploit... more The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) represents a resource with huge, but yet largely unexploited, potentials for the maritime and coastal tourism. In the last 10 years, national and international government authorities are supporting and strengthening research activities and development strategies, plans and policies to make underwater archaeological sites' exploitation more sustainable and accessible to large-scale tourism. To this end, the paper presents an outcome of the Virtual and augmented exploitation of Submerged Archaeological Sites (VISAS) project that allows users to explore underwater archaeological sites. In particular, the virtual diving system combines the advantages offered by Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and the latest three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques to create virtual tours for the exploitation of the UCH. User studies' results demonstrate that the proposed VR system is able to provide a playful learning experience, with a high emotional impact, and it has been well appreciated by a large variety of audiences, even by younger and inexperienced users.
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Papers by Antonio Lagudi