Three-dimensional documentation of complex heritage structures

The need to study and preserve remnants of the first civilizations and to document their events, religions, cultures and significant architectural structures has always existed. As a result, various methods of visual communications developed over a period of time-from ancient techniques like rock-cut frescoes to today´s digital techniques using multimedia. Along with these techniques, there exists a need to improve the user interface and to increase user interactivity. Soon, people will no longer need to go beyond the realms of their own homes to experience or study intricate heritage structures. Virtual environments of such structures will be easily available and navigable. All the associated information will be available at the click of a mouse. Virtual environments can be depicted in various ways. For example, for different lighting conditions, the virtual structure can appear as it existed, as it exists now or as it will (or could) exist in the future. Besides marking the beginning of 3D documentation of complex heritage structures, the research described in this paper has extended the limits of human skill and IT. For our project, we selected the palatial complex of Fatehpur Sikri, a heritage structure located near Agra in India that had a sufficient degree of complexity. My colleagues and I conceived the project in two parts: the resurrection of Fatehpur Sikri and an interactive virtual tour on the World Wide Web entitled “Fatehpur Sikri - An Epic in Red Sandstone” (<http://rohini.ncst.ernet.in/fatehpur>)