Project’s scope is to raise public’s awareness on European identity by focusing in maritime CH, which by default bridges different civilizations. Scope of the project is to design, analyse, develop and validate pioneer applications and systems in the context of Virtual Museums through collaborative and innovative research from a diverse group of scientists, researchers, archaeologists, experts and museums.
Underwater CH assets are widely spread into the Mediterranean. However, unlike land archaeological sites, submerged settlements, submerged ancient ports and especially shipwrecks, are not accessible to the general public nor even to all experts, due to their environment and depth. Photos and surfaced finds exhibited in maritime museums provide fragmented aspects of such sites but are the only one’s visitors can see. Thus, Virtual Museums 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. Such digital encounters should provide virtual visit opportunities for children, elderly or people with mobility problems, and enhance the actual underwater visit with augmented digital content.
Despite the recent developments in Augmented Reality devices, tools for CH, are limited to dry conditions. The main reason is the demanding environment in terms of 3D data acquisition and poor imaging conditions. Therefore, AR tools, which could enhance the digital experience of visitors in situ, do not work underwater. The Project will address this using underwater tablets, provided to visitors.
The main tools provided by the Project are (a) VR dry visits in underwater CH, in a variety of devices (smartphones, Daydream and HTC Vive HMDs, Holographic screens), (b) an AR tablet with housing for divers/visitors in underwater CH sites, to be used both as guides as well as for AR superimposition of conceptual 3D drawings of the visited area, (c) a Seafaring serious game, (d) a VR Excavation serious game and (e) physical and VR 3D puzzles of ships and amphorae fragments. All of these are available to public except for (b), which requires dedicated acoustic positioning modems and corresponding antennas. Apart from these main deliverables, several other by products were delivered such as software for underwater image dehazing and colour correction, web based classical ship route calculation according to dynamic weather data, VR training for underwater documentation and excavation, ontology based web tools for Xlendi shipwreck and an ontology editor.
During project's duration, apart from the technical aspect, two challenges were faced: IPR and finding the equilibrium among education vs fun aspect in the applications. Before any commercialization of results and/or applications, the developer must go through a meticulous process of identifying rights and applying permission of usage. This extents from the local Ministry and excavation Director to the photographers and 3D reconstruction experts. Usually this is the main constrain in most commercialization efforts in CH through Mixed Reality applications.
