The great Buddha Project: Modeling Cultural Heritage Through Observation

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of our efforts in modeling cultural heritage through observation. These efforts span three aspects: how to create geometric models of cultural heritage; how to create photometric models of cultural heritage; and how to integrate such virtual heritages with real scenes. For geometric model creation, we have developed a two-step method: simultaneous alignment and volumetric view merging. For photometric model creation, we have developed the eigen-texture rendering methods, which automatically create photorealistic models by observing the real objects. For the integration of virtual objects with real scenes, we have developed a method that renders virtual objects based on real illumination distribution. We have applied these component techniques to constructing a multimedia model of the Great Buddha of Kamakura, and demonstrated their effectiveness.