New technologies for a multimedia project: the virtual reconstruction of the Ancient Rome in the fourth century A.C.

Abstract

A virtual reconstruction plan of the City of Rome in the fourth century A.C. has been worked out by the University of Caen. This is a multidisciplinary project requiring a team-work. It has two objectives: research and education. The topic has international vocation and presents a great cultural interest. It is made up of three parts that widely call up the new technologies : data collecting, data processing and diffusion of results. Data collecting: they are on very different supports (maps, texts, models, photos) and are rarely digitalized ; authors are specialists (archaeologists, historians, writers, specialists of mechanics). Data processing: it begins by the digitalisation and the constitution of a documentary database, gathering under an electronic form, bibliographical references, maps, photos, textures, video... Diffusion of results: they are the most widely diffused using paper and CDROM supports, but new media based on communication networks are privileged. The diffusion on Internet is widely used but the increase of the network flows allows video conferencing and video on demand. Today we have to take stock of the difficulties we encountered, the choices we made, the results we got, the work in progress.