Kinect and 3D GIS in archaeology

A low-cost, portable system leveraging Microsoft's Kinect enables virtual navigation and gesture-based interaction with a digitally reconstructed 3D GIS model of the ancient Maya city of Copan. This prototype, part of the MayaArch3D project, demonstrates how integrating databases with 3D digital tools can enhance research and teaching on ancient architectures. The system, built using the Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit (FAAST), allows users to remotely control movements in the virtual environment through touchless gestures, fostering spatial awareness and embodiment while retrieving multimedia information from a spatial database.

Richards-Rissetto, H., von Schwerin, J., & Girardi, G. (2012). Kinect and 3D GIS in archaeology. 2012 18th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia, 331–337. https://doi.org/10.1109/vsmm.2012.6365942