A virtual excavation: combining 3D immersive virtual reality and geophysical surveying

The projection of multi-layered remote sensing and geophysical survey data into a 3D immersive virtual reality environment for noninvasive archaeological exploration is described. Topography, ultra-high resolution satellite imagery, magnetic, electromagnetic, and ground penetrating radar surveys of an archaeological site are visualized as a single data set within the six-sided (including floor) virtual reality (VR) room known as the StarCAVE. These independent data sets are combined in 3D space through their geospatial orientation to facilitate the detection of physical anomalies from signatures observed across various forms of surface and subsurface surveys. The data types are highly variant in nature and scale, ranging from 2D imagery to massive scale point clouds. As a reference base-layer a site elevation map was produced and used as to normalize and correlate the various forms of collected data within a single volume. Projecting this volume within the StarCAVE facilitates immersive and collaborative exploration of the virtual site at actual scale of the physical site.