Using Metaverse to Rebuild Non-reachable or Ruined Heritage Buildings

Abstract

Virtual 3D models are seen to be of great use in 3D Documentation of historical buildings as well as in teaching Islamic architecture history courses in Architecture Schools. Heritage Buildings which urgently need architectural documentation may be generally classified into two categories, Non-reachable and Ruined buildings. This paper presents a scientific and practical methodology to create fully immersive interactive 3D Virtual Reality models in Metaverse of either cases based on new fully immersive virtual reality technologies supported by Photo-modelling techniques. The research aims to apply the proposed method to generate virtual 3D models of two case studies; the first, the Non-reachable Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem, Palestine, and the second is the Ruined Badr El-Din Mosque in Al-Sayeda Aisha area, in Cairo, Egypt. In Documenting Non-reachable Heritage Buildings, The research produces a complete virtual copy of "Al Aqsa Al Sharif Mosque Compound", with all its Islamic and Christian monuments and gates. In Documenting Ruined Heritage Buildings, The research produces a complete virtual copy of "Badr Edeen Elwanaey Mosque", created in details depending on researcher proposed designs, then the walls, ceilings and floors of this model were covered with texture driven from the Architectural Designs made by the researcher, which depends on elements of the comparative analysis study for the Four Mosques in the same era as the ruler and by the same architect.