Exploring underwater archaeology findings with a diving simulator in virtual reality

Abstract

With Virtual Reality (VR) technology maturing and spreading widely in recent years, it is becoming an increasingly useful tool for entertainment and education alike. Its potential to simulate hard to reach environments and emulate unique experiences believably is of great interest for the scientific study of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH), in particular for the simulation of real-world dives. VR enriched with techniques from immersive Serious Games (SG) provide an authentic way to enjoy Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) and the sport of diving from the comfort of the user’s home or as a museum exhibit. In this paper we are focusing on the exploration of the wreck of a Roman merchant ship from the 5th century AD, which was found near Veliki Piruzi (Croatia). The images taken by the underwater archaeologists enable a 3D reconstruction of the excavation site. The modular structure of the application makes it very easy to transfer the techniques presented to other excavation sites including information and objects.