Reconstruction Issues and Links

The reconstructions were produced in the Archaeological Computing Research Group laboratory using a render farm based on DELL dual processor Precision Workstations running 3ds Max, with further processing carried out on an 8GB Mac G5. Landscape components make use of Vue Infinite technologies. Owing to bandwidth issues frames were downsized signficantly to 320 x 240 pixels and then assembled as QuickTime Movies. Backgrounds, architectural detail and water craft were rendered as separate frames. These were then composited using FinalCut Pro with titles added in LiveType. In total 90,000 frames were rendered, with some taking up to 45 minutes each. In the initial models full Radiosity calculations were employed but this proved impossible for the final animations. Here textural approximations were employed. However, as we continue to work with the Portus data we will begin to re-render still elements using advanced lighting technologies. The work here demonstrates our current understanding of the site but also provides opportunities for further study. Many of the elements modelled do not appear in the final animations and in future work we will render additional views moving around the site, including walking views through the urban area. The construction of all of the modelled elements, whether visible or not in the final animations, has greatly enhanced our understanding of the site. In additional future work we intend to render frames using the full modelled details, at higher resolutions and employing alternative lighting and texturing methodologies.

Information about the software and techniques used is available via the following links: