TY - Type of reference TI - Study of a structure dedicated to 3D data production and exploration applied to research in archaeology AU - Jean-Baptiste Barreau AU - Ronan Gaugne AU - Gaétan Le Cloirec AU - Yann Bernard AU - Valérie Gouranton AU - Bruno Arnaldi AB - 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. DO - 10.21494/ISTE.OP.2017.0165 JF - Digital Archaeology KW - Archaeology, Virtual Reality, 3D Digitization, Digital for Cultural Heritage, Archéologie, Réalité virtuelle, Patrimoine, Immersion, Interaction, L1 - https://openscience.fr/IMG/pdf/iste_numearv1n1_4.pdf LA - en PB - ISTE OpenScience DA - 2017/10/13 SN - 2515-7574 TT - Étude d’une structure dédiée à la production et l’exploration de données 3D appliquées à la recherche en archéologie UR - https://openscience.fr/Study-of-a-structure-dedicated-to-3D-data-production-and-exploration-applied-to IS - Issue 1 VL - 1 ER -