VR tools for unveiling a unique hidden Monument

Abstract. The Macedonian Hellenistic Tomb on Troias Street in Drama, Greece, stands as a significant testament to ancient funerary architecture. It is a unique specimen of Macedonian Tombs, located farthest east of the centre of the Macedonian Kingdom. Recognising the imperative need to preserve and reveal to the public such heritage, a multidisciplinary initiative was undertaken to digitally document and highlight the tomb using contemporary technologies and virtual reality tools. This project employed advanced digital methods, including 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry, to reliably create the 3D model of the tomb's structure and intricate details. A multi- sensor approach was employed to overcome the adverse conditions of the extremely confined space, which is an aspect that makes this implementation particularly interesting. Apart from the standard DSLR full-frame camera and a terrestrial laser scanner, a 360ο panoramic camera provided overlapping spherical images of the space and an action camera was employed to image the roof of the tomb in particular, as the distance to the basement roof was less than 50cm. In this paper, the workflow for producing the 3D model is described in detail, assessing the use of a variety of contemporary equipment. Subsequently, the 3D model was used to produce a virtual reality application for enabling the highlighting of this hidden monument to the general public. For that purpose, Unity 3D, a well-known game engine, was employed. This VR application will be made freely available through QR code scanning to prospective virtual visitors by the local Ephorate of Antiquities.