BODIAM CASTLE: IS THERE A BUSINESS MODEL IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIMULATIONS?

I was hoping to write my next blog post after the launch of AVAYALIVE ENGAGE (previously known as web.alive) version 3.0  but rumour has it that snags have emerged in the MAC capability function and further delays are unavoidable. I am hoping that this is an unfounded rumour since generally speaking academics do have a preference for the MAC platform. At MellaniuM we have often discussed the possibility of developing a business model for archaeological simulations. The present state of  virtual visualisation capabilities appears to be able to produce realistic interpretations both by CAD software or  "water tight meshes" from laser scanning and photogrammetry. We have been making herculean efforts to partner with modelers and laser scanning groups to collaborate on an extensive proof of concept. Recently we were sent a feasting hall of the famous Bodiam Castle replete with tables of food and medieval tapestries adorning the walls. Alice Watterson ,who sent us the 3D studio max model is presently working for her Ph.D.on reconstructing stone age habitations in the far North of Scotland using laser scanning techniques.

FEASTING HALL IN BODIAM CASTLE RENDERED IN 3D STUDIO MAX

               

  We decided that having the feasting hall embedded in the context of the actual castle model would provide a much more complete indication of the potential of using virtual environments. We had already worked with Donald Sanders of Learning Sites (previous blog post) to generate a multi-participant environment using a model of a 300BC farmhouse in Atica, Greece. We have since mutually agreed that the feat of rendering archaeological sites in AVAYALIVE ENGAGE is technically practical. However the one and only truly difficult task now at hand is to develop a business model  by which we can generate revenue to create ever more complex and immersive experiences to attract paying participants. So we turned our attention to Bodiam Castle which is a national treasure owned by the National Trust in the United Kingdom..

      Bodiam Castle is a 14th century moated castle in East Sussex in England. It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge with permission of Richard ll to defend the area against a potential French invasion during the Hundred Years' War.

As you can see using the view from GOOGLE EARTH the Sketchup model indicates the status of the Bodiam Castle with ruined living quarters and the present day single access through the main portcullis and gateway.

The floor plan of the original fortification shows the feasting hall (or Great Hall) is in close proximity to the rear exit and adjacent to the kitchen and food storage areas.

A screenshot the Watterson feasting hall as imported into the AVAYALIVE ENGAGE platform. We have to admit some of the the textures such as the floor and the terracotta jugs have not been totally accurately rendered but we are constantly working on improving the environment.

Another screenshot  from the North West tower with active smoke simulation exiting the chimney on the roof of the Great hall.

In less than two days the Bodiam Castle model  rendered in 3D STUDIO MAX and the Great Hall detailed area was embedded in the completed environment. The original access route was reconstructed over a bridge running parallel to the castle wall onto a fortified barbican with two drawbridges. This environment is available to visit at http://castle.hawser.nl/5/html/index.html The surrounding countryside texture was incorporated from the existing GOOGLE EARTH view.
         As I have mentioned previously that this is one of the latest environments we have created with an archaeological theme. One of the first undertaken was in collaboration with the University of Southampton in the Portus Project during the CAA 2012 conference. where we entered an exhibit in the poster section also comprising the Acropolis kindly supplied by Donald Sanders of Learning Sites Inc. We were asked by Stylianos Mystakidis to provide a field trip to the Acropolis for students and faculty for the University of Patras, Athens, Greece.

STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS ON THE STEPS OF THE PARTHENON

       So in summary over the past year or so we have posited the thesis that AVAYALIVE ENGAGE could be a viable method of simulating virtually reconstructed interpretations of ruined or presently non-existing archaeological sites. Indeed renowned virtual archaeologists such as the distinguished Prof. Bernard Frischer the director of the Virtual World Heritage Laboratory  (of Rome Reborn 2.0 fame) has written at length about the fact that the time is now ripe for computer science and art to be melded together for the benefit of world heritage. Furthermore he cited Second Life and Open Sim as potential media platforms to compile modeled heritage sites as a method of virtual collaboration in archaeology. In his keynote lecture in 2009 at ARQUEOLOGICA 2.0 Frischer was proposing a journal called "SAVE" which stood for "Serving and Archiving Virtual Environments" and stated that "SAVE" could be thought of as "Second Life for scholars and that it intends to harness human creativity by historical methodology to recreate with greatest possible fidelity, the historical cultures that once existed across the globe"

        There is presently little confidence left  in these platforms to utilize heavy polygon content mesh models but perhaps UNITY or, could I suggest, there is little doubt that AVAYALIVE ENGAGE can certainly be harnessed to provide the technology for Frischer's vision.
         If we now turn our attention  to the use of laser scanned 3D models for existing monuments it has left us all at MellaniuM totally non-plussed, baffled and bewildered. We have been working with Michael Raphael of Direct Dimensions and we have successfully imported scanned items and faces into AVAYALIVE ENGAGE in a proof of concept project. Michael commented on a LinkedIn group discussion from Elizabeth Lee of Cyark.

"MAKE HIGH QUALITY WATERTIGHT MESHES WITH TEXTURES AND PUT THEM IN A FASCINATING VIRTUAL WORLD. ADD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND YOU WILL HAVE A DESTINATION WORTH VISITING"

             "Joe/Liz, I know you both, you need to talk, meet and collaborate. Together you could present meaningful and interesting content (CYARK sites) within a well-developed interactive 3D world (AVAYALIVE). Henry's comment above is accurate "bubble-view" panoramics don't cut it!"
              "In todays world of fully interactive 3D video games and virtual worlds, this is the minimum experience level required to excite visitors. Anything less in underwhelming and defeats the purpose for having 3D data in the first place. Make high quality watertight meshes with textures, and put them in a fascinating virtual world. Add educational programming and you will have a destination worth visiting"

We  tried contacting CYARK  several times by phone and as usual all the fantastic modes of social media and the latest Internet communication methods were ineffective. Ironically enough though Tom Greaves the Executive Director of Cyark visited the Acropolis and spoke to us about having further discussions. After a period of a month or so we realized once more that our efforts were in vain.

"I AM 100% BEHIND YOU THAT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK-THAT REALITY WILL COME TO IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL WORLDS"

I e-mailed Michael Raphael and it seems that as he put it;
 "And I especially agree with your realization of the turmoil in our space around the 3D reality capture methods and technologies.
            We have very deep issues regarding data rights, re-purposing of data, public/private issues, and even challenges in the for-profit vs. non-profit approaches.  Both CyArk and The Smithsonian, specifically, among many others, are in experiences challenging issues on this topic right now - I know this for a fact because I am working with both of them on this.............
 I am 100% behind you that you are on the right track - that reality will come to immersive digital worlds."

"FIE ON THEE! FOR SHAME"

So basically the future of developing a potential business model rests with the content producers. If they slave away on their CAD software or laser scanners are they simply willing to have all these models of Stonehenge, Mount Rushmore or the Egyptian cities and temples safely stored in limbo in a vast store of untouchable copyrighted  items.
         I say "Fie on thee!, for shame" What on earth are you planning to do with these models? Have them available to view one at a time on some viewer which just allows you to see and rotate them with no realistic textures or contextual environment for experiencing with multiple participants? Can you not see the possibilities? What can be blinding you to the potentialities? Oh! Of course you have very deep issues with someone else repurposing your data, yeah right.