3 D Visualisation Tool or Trap Drew Baker

3 D Visualisation Tool or Trap? Drew Baker 3 D Visualisation Centre The University of Warwick

Ubiquitous Opening Quote “There are those who think that Virtual Reality may be the most important development since man first chipped flint, and there are those who don’t know what it is yet” Douglas Adams (1991).

What is 3 D Visualisation? Visualisation n n Making a visible presentation of numerical data. An image that is similar to a visual perception. Three Dimensional n n n Of, relating to, having or existing in 3 dimensions. Having or appearing to have extension in depth. Treating many aspects of a subject, lifelike. 3 D Visualisation n n A hypothetical multi dimensional visual world created in digital form that permits the viewer to better understand the underlying data or argument. It can be static, fixed view or interactive.

3 D Visualisation as a tool. Can help to understand a site. n Complex forms, multiple uses, many periods. Can be used to “persuade” people. n Public, officials, site owners. Can be used to present information. n Visitors, learners, untrained help. Can be used to stimulate debate. n Hypothetical, theoretical, or just plain controversial.

Iron Age “Village” Warwick Campus

The Theatre of Pompey, Rome

Shaftsbury Abbey, Dorset

The Bouleuterion at Arriasos

The Pro’s and the Con’s Enables user to better understand a possible reality. Interactive visualisations are experiential. Promotes discussion and lateral thinking. Responsive to changes in evidence and ideas. If employed properly creates a corpus of supporting data. Seductive – often visualisations are taken on faith as fact. Interactive visualisations are subjective. Opens the scholar to critical attack. Risks of the visualisation never being finalised. Technical skill sets required to produce quality visualisations.

So 3 d Visualisation Tool or Trap? It can enhance research. It can create new data and knowledge forms. It can be used to inform and persuade. BUT Practices must be adhered to ensure quality visualisations. Methods enabling the visualisation to be audited must be developed. Strategies must be employed to understand the process of developing visualisations.

Obligatory Closing Quote “When Columbus was sailing west in his quest for a round earth, he reached a point where he was hopelessly lost. Legend has it that he gathered all the sailors and exclaimed ‘We have arrived at uncharted waters much sooner than I had anticipated. Rejoice!’. This is the current situation [with 3 D Visualisation]. ” John R. Vacca (1996).