Virtual access to landscapes and historic gardens at linked locations

Since 1997 staff at UWE have been exploring the use of underlying spatial databases which may be used to manage 3D modelling and related information. The term spatial database or spatial information system (SIS) is used as more inclusive of different domains than `geographic´ information system (GIS), although commercial GIS may satisfactorily serve this and many similar functions. The question of when it is useful to model and when video or high-resolution images may be equally or more useful has also been examined. A new project, `Valhalla´, offers the opportunity to test these approaches as a basis for the integration of 3D modelling with real-time video for the online comparative study of landscapes and historic gardens. While the project is based on possibly the most ephemeral and at-risk portion of our architectural heritage it is hypothesized that the approach could be equally applicable to building sites and to archaeological digs