@ARTICLE{10.21494/ISTE.OP.2017.0165, 

TITLE={Study of a structure dedicated to 3D data production and exploration applied to research in archaeology}, 
  
AUTHOR={Jean-Baptiste Barreau, Ronan Gaugne, Gaétan Le Cloirec, Yann Bernard, Valérie Gouranton, Bruno Arnaldi, }, 
	
JOURNAL={Digital Archaeology}, 
	
VOLUME={1}, 

NUMBER={Issue 1}, 
	
YEAR={2017}, 

URL={https://openscience.fr/Study-of-a-structure-dedicated-to-3D-data-production-and-exploration-applied-to}, 
	
DOI={10.21494/ISTE.OP.2017.0165}, 
	
ISSN={2515-7574}, 
	
ABSTRACT={The West Digital Conservatory of Archaeological Heritage project, a.k.a. WDCAH, is a French research
organization whose aim is to both ensure the preservation of digital archaeological data, and deliver expertise in
production, analysis, visualization and virtual reality exploration techniques. He was created three years ago in the
CReAAH (Research Center for Archaeology, Archeosciences and History). This project is an interdisciplinary project
composed of engineers and researchers in archaeology, computer science, virtual reality and 3D interaction with virtual
environments. Its purpose is to help the scientist in his research work through a wide range of 3D data generation
methods. In addition, through a collaboration with IRISA (Institute of Research in Computer Science and Random
Systems), the WDCAH explored and illustrated the interest of virtual reality at different stages of the archaeologist work:
(i) for scientific analysis and understanding of archaeological contexts, (ii) to validate certain hypotheses, argue and
demonstrate and (iii) to disseminate for educational purposes and scientific mediation. After three years of existence, the WDCAH proposes to take stock of its organization and mode of operation. It appeared that the positioning of the WDCAH
structure, its proximity, adaptability and exchange with archaeologists had an impact on the scientific process as
important as the intrinsic efficiency of 3D imaging tools. The rapid evolution of these tools, both in terms of digitization of
existing and hypothetical modeling involves some difficulties that may have significant scientific and economic impacts for
a discipline that is not always familiar with these technologies and does not necessarily have the financial means to
spend. From the work of the WDCAH, constants have emerged on a broad technical spectrum, from digital storage to
virtual reality interaction through the 3D reconstruction of buildings, ecological environments and human activities. But
these constants also concern methodological choices as the positioning of the archaeologist, 3D engineer, or graphic
designer, funding, possible responses to archaeological issues and participation in the evaluation of cultural heritage.
Based on the experience of WDCAH, we propose to identify and characterize these constants to share with the
community and help archaeologists access to 3D digital archeology.}}