Page 75 - JCAU-6-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Virtual reconstruction of archaeological sites

This comprehensive approach aids in visualization, visualization of analytical functions. Virtual technologies,
management, analysis, and decision-making (Angjeliu such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and
et al., 2020; Kantaros & Piromalis, 2022). Widely mixed reality (MR), activate the digital museum, promising
employed across various fields such as satellite/space an immersive and accessible experience. Furthermore, the
communication networks, ships, vehicles, power plants, integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, big
aircraft, complex equipment, building engineering, data, cloud computing, 5G, and artificial intelligence has
mining and energy engineering, medical and healthcare, the potential to enable real-time condition monitoring, big
agriculture, shop floors, smart cities, and digital twin data management and analysis, simulation and prediction,
technology improve the understanding of physical and supportive or automatic decision-making in the virtual
entities (Tao et al., 2019; Gabellone, 2022). Authorities world (Piromalis & Kantaros, 2022; Dang et al., 2023).
strongly endorse its applications, evident in initiatives Archaeological sites within built heritage present
such as “digital built Britain” in the United Kingdom unique and varied challenges to digital twin applications.
(National Digital Twin Programme, 2022) and the While basic preservation, exhibition, and management
“digital twin of water conservancy” in China (Ministry of are commonly planned goals, the demand for simulation
Water Resources, 2023). and analysis, particularly in the context of virtual
In the field of built heritage, the digital twin itself restoration, has become essential. This necessity is evident
serves as a perfect mirror object of the physical built in cases such as the Pishan site in Zhejiang, China, where
heritage, presenting a high-resolution spatial and graphic excavation of a loess terrace (LT) with building remains
dataset. It finds applications in many heritage sites with requires uncovering its cultural appearance and original
different materials, areas, and preservation conditions, architectural profile. However, only pillar holes and
serving purposes such as documentation, visualization, residual wood remain, shrouding the original appearance
management, monitoring, decision-making, simulation, in mystery for researchers. Virtual reconstruction
prediction, and more (Dang et al., 2023). An exemplary of the LT is necessary to prevent potential damage
instance of its application is the faithful reconstruction caused by continuous surveys and to enhance overall
of Notre Dame after its 2019 fire, initiated with the aid comprehension. Pierdicca et al. (2016) have successfully
of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for full-scale spatial addressed similar challenges by integrating spherical
data collection (Lepère & Lemmens, 2019). Similarly, the photogrammetry and dense reconstruction techniques
Mcbain Building in Shanghai, China, has developed a to complete a virtual reconstruction of a building in a
digital twin model that provides valuable data support for UNESCO archaeological area in Peru. In another study,
design, construction, monitoring, management, activation, Banfi et al. (2023) integrated laser scanning, digital
and preventive conservation (Shanghai Cultural Relics photogrammetry, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
Protection Buildings, 2023). Digital twin models can also data to reproduce archaeological, architectural, and
store attribute data, such as hygrothermal and mechanical infrastructure scales in Roman-built heritage. While
properties, facilitating further exploration (Gabellone, there are abundant digital survey cases for built heritage,
2022). Angjeliu et al. (2020) integrated the physical including archaeological sites, experiences like that of the
monitoring datasets into an accurate digital twin model to Pishan site – characterized by being an underground site
investigate the masonry structural response of the Milan without walls, patterns, or even a half-complete pillar –
Cathedral in Italy, aiding in preventive maintenance, and are rare and still challenging.
strengthening operations. In this scenario, we propose our work: the virtual
The toolkit for digital twins in built heritage encompasses reconstruction and restoration of the LT and its
a range of software and techniques. 3D surveying and surroundings, both in a virtual circumstance through
mapping technologies, such as 3D laser scanning (Pepe digital twin technologies. We initiate the process
et al., 2021; Lenda et al., 2023), photogrammetry (Arza- by reconstructing a 3D model of the LT through
García et al., 2019; Galantucci & Fatiguso, 2019), and photogrammetry. Subsequently, we create an immersive
panoramic photography, enable the creation of a virtual panoramic environment using panoramic photography.
counterpart that mirrors the physical object. In addition, a Furthermore, we propose to complete the restoration
global positioning system within the physical device aids in research with the help of visualized analysis and
spatial positioning. Information management techniques, information management based on GIS, and integration
such as geographic information system (GIS) and building of point cloud and parametric modeling based on BIM.
information model (BIM), establish connections between Therefore, the digital twin matters not only because it
the reconstruction model and various data, facilitating the facilitates the reconstruction of a reliable digital replica

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1735