Geomatics and metaverse for lost heritage sites documentation and dissemination: the case study of Palmyra Roman Theatre (Syria)

A groundbreaking approach combining geomatics and metaverse technologies has successfully reconstructed the lost Palmyra Roman Theatre, Syria, using spherical photogrammetry to digitally preserve its pre-destruction state. The study optimized 3D models for virtual reality (VR) applications through polygon decimation and texturing, creating an immersive, online-accessible virtual environment that enables shared exploration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. User response experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of these digital tools in conveying historical significance, offering a scalable model for disseminating lost heritage. This method provides a powerful solution to safeguard and educate about sites threatened by conflict or destruction.

Forte, A., Alkhatib, Y. J., Bitelli, G., Malinverni, E. S., & Pierdicca, R. (2024). Geomatics and metaverse for lost heritage sites documentation and dissemination: the case study of Palmyra Roman Theatre (Syria). Virtual Archaeology Review, 16(32), 85–99. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2024.21662