Abstract:
The distinctive character of digital technology has created new conditions of approach and processing. The city as the object of visualization has its own peculiarities as a separate object, notwithstanding the demands imposed by these new conditions. The medium’s interactivity, the requirements of digital distribution, the necessary compromises and prerequisites, shape a special state of 3D modeling.
This paper researches on the one hand the conditions for data collection, the state of data, its documentation and the production of the 3D model and on the other a theoretical framework of simulation and reproduction of the model of the "city" based on reality. Man has never stopped creating works of art. The history of art testifies to this, but what we seek is the creation of a model with the qualities of reality. Through the excellent possibilities that digital technology has made available for the production of an ultra-real model, we have managed to make the model of the city come alive.
The conclusions result from the applications used employing popular software programs (AutoCAD, ArcVIEW (3D analyst), 3D Studio MAX). This experience led to the formulation of a 3D model creation framework which allows for a greater degree of realistic re-creation without coming into conflict with scientific ethics, but in fact, demonstrating them.
This paper is basically concerned with visualization of a city through time. A city is a living object that changes over time. So, the quantity and quality of the data that is available for its representation might be, in some particular situations, a problem.
ResponderEliminarThe virtual reconstruction of a modern city should not be difficult, because usually the available data is more or less complete. The problem of virtually representing a city arises when it is necessary to represent the past. For public buildings and for large infrastructures there is normally enough material, such as sections, ground plans and facades, to represent them in an acceptable accurate way. However, for the “average” residence, in most of the cases, there is almost no information accessible and the area of a city covered by this kind of houses is quantitatively important. Therefore, the lack of these elements makes the complete redesign of the city almost impossible. In this case, the data completion task regarding the average residence is based on standardization studies: only some average houses are excavated, which later are used to redesign the city grid.
A city model has also to use the digital terrain model (DTM) and information about the vegetation coverage. In the case of the DTM for the representation of an ancient city, the modern elevation information is generally used, because the terrain does not change that much. However, the information collection for vegetation coverage is usually quite difficult. Therefore, quite often symbolic representation is used for the purpose of representing the vegetation coverage.
In the case of a city, there are usually two kinds of realistic representation that can be considered. On the one hand, 3D models can be created using conventional CAD or GIS tools. These models can be monochrome models, if they are based in the standard classical natural models, or have some colour symbolism that is provided by the modelling programs. On the other hand, the 3D models can result from the application of photo-realistic guidelines for absolute realism purposes. In both cases, the software that has been used is AutoCAD, ArcView and 3D Studio VIZ.
But, in spite of the current computational power or the current methodologies and techniques regarding 3D modelling, there still are the questions of how accurate or complete should a 3D model be. In the case of an ancient city, the completeness of a 3D model, although being extremely attractive, might compromise the reality. The aim should always be the creation of a model with the qualities of reality, however it is important to take into account the extension of this reality and the purpose of the 3D model. The resulting 3D model has always to be a balanced combination of symbolism and realism.