In this section we will briefly outline two potential scenarios for the Site Explorer. Plenty of data is available for both scenarios which has different historical aspects that would make them a worthwhile and interesting showcase for the capabilities of the Site Explorer.
Scenario A: Sagalassos
The location for this Site Explorer scenario is the archaeological site of the now-abandoned town of Sagalassos in south west Turkey. A large amount of historical data has been collected from the site, documenting the buildings and artefacts discovered, as well as new information being generated by techniques such as cartography and geo-physical prospection.
Through a time line, the user of the system can select any date and view the settlement of Sagalassos as it was in that time: in this way it can be possible to visualize changes of the site. By adjusting the date the user can view the development of the settlement throughout the years. For example, it is possible to view Sagalassos during the occupation of the Romans, after 300 years of the Greek empire, since Alexander the Great and navigate through time until the abandonment of the area in the 7th century A.D. The user then navigates through time viewing the changes that
occurred and led up to the eventual abandonment.
The transition from Greek Empire to Roman Empire is characterized by several architectural changes that will be highlighted with the annotation system. Modern photos of the ruined site may be displayed at points of interest and compared to the displayed 3D recreation of the old city, providing an interesting and informative contrast.
"Some of the information gatherd about the Sagalassos archaelogical site."
Scenario B: Brighton
This scenario concerns Brighton, a city on the south coast of England; in particular during the Regency period around the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century. The Prince Regent, later King George IV, visited Brighton frequently in this period and eventually constructed his Royal Pavilion there. It was around this time that Brighton started growing significantly. There are many maps, images and other documents available that allow us to track the developments during this period.
Assuming a variety of reconstructions it could be possible to construct a scenario for different time periods. The Site Explorer will enable a user to view a reconstruction of the town during this Regency period, with the interactive timeline allowing him/her to track the rapid growth of the city.
Thorough documentation of construction plans will allow some Regency buildings to be modelled both inside and out, allowing user-interactive walkthroughs. Of particular interest will be the growth pattern of Brighton and its neighbouring settlement Hove, as well as the conurbation of the two sites now officially known as the City of Brighton & Hove. Such visualisations are of use in both historic study and urban planning applications.
"Brigthon Royal Pavilion: (a) The pavilion; (b) Layout of the areas surrounding the pavillion."
