Millions of people flock to ancient sites every year to feel the wonderment that comes with laying eyes on the ruins of a building or city from thousands of years ago. Viewing the ruins may be a spectacular experience for many, but it often leads people to wonder what that structure or city looked like back when it was a thriving hive of activity. Lithodomos VR, a new Melbourne-based virtual reality archaeological startup, is attempting to create a VR experience that will provide exactly that: a look at ancient cities, buildings, and artifacts as they were before eroding to ruins.
According to venturebeat.com, the company has raised $679,000 in order to create archaeologically accurate reconstructions of the ancient world in VR. These reconstructions are created using photogrammetry, texturing, and mesh modeling and stem from years of research and firsthand knowledge to create the most accurate and informative experience for the viewer.
Lithodomos VR claims to specialize in VR content for the Greek and Roman worlds. Its team is filled with individuals holding master’s degrees and PhDs in archaeology, cultural heritage management, and classical archaeology, as well as 3D artists and business professionals.
One of the projects currently available from Lithodomos VR is a reconstruction of the Arènes de Lutèce, in Paris, as it looked 2,000 years ago. Another project allows individuals to view Ancient Jerusalem as it was 2,000 years ago from four vantage points. In addition to full buildings and sites, the technology can also be used to 3D scan individual artifacts, such as a Greek coin, to give people an up-close look at something they otherwise may only be able to view behind glass at a museum.
The company believes its VR reconstructions will be useful to museums, government, education, and tour operators. The VR experiences can be viewed on the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, and many other devices.
Click here to view demos of the virtual reconstructions.
Related Stories
Esports Arenas | Jan 16, 2023
Columbus, Ohio, to be new home for 100,000-sf esports arena
Up-and-coming esports stadium company Glytch has announced its plan to build a versatile esports arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Virtual Reality | Dec 12, 2022
Supplementing workplace connections through digital knowledge networks
Zachary Wassenberg of Burns & McDonnell breaks down three applications for digital knowledge networks: training, libraries, and instructions.
Virtual Reality | Nov 16, 2018
Google files patent for VR shoes that let you walk limitlessly in a small space
The shoes could take VR immersion to new levels.
Augmented Reality | Nov 9, 2018
Is this the future of amusement parks?
The concept will be presented in Orlando at the IAAPA Attractions Expo.
Augmented Reality | Nov 2, 2018
Savannah College of Art and Design offers new four-year degree in Immersive Reality
The program began its first year with the fall 2018 semester.
Virtual Reality | Sep 10, 2018
Virtual reality as a design tool: What we've learned and where we're going
Given the dizzying speed in which the technology has caught on, it’s worth taking a moment to look at what we’ve learned to date about VR and discuss how it fits into the future of architecture and design.
Accelerate Live! | Jun 24, 2018
Watch all 19 Accelerate Live! talks on demand
BD+C’s second annual Accelerate Live! AEC innovation conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago) featured talks on AI for construction scheduling, regenerative design, the micro-buildings movement, post-occupancy evaluation, predictive visual data analytics, digital fabrication, and more. Take in all 19 talks on demand.
| May 30, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Seven technologies that restore glory to the master builder
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), AEC technophile Rohit Arora outlines emerging innovations that are poised to transform how we design and build structures in the near future.
Augmented Reality | May 30, 2018
HoloLens used as wayfinding device to guide blind people through complex buildings
Neither training nor modification of the physical environment are required to use the system.
Healthcare Facilities | May 29, 2018
Will telemedicine change the face of healthcare architecture?
Telemedicine is a broad term that covers many aspects and mediums of care, but primarily it refers to the use of video monitors to allow a virtual face to face consultation to take place.
