The digital reconstruction of the Roman mummy is based on tomography scans performed on the artifact for scientific research purposes. Tomography has been used in archaeology as a non-invasive method of scientific investigation by several institutions around the world. From this data, it was possible to generate a geometric model with the exact measurements of the mummy and a single texture covering the entire body. A detailed process of restoration, editing and digital painting was carried out on this model using specialized software and photographs of details of the body. This image was later placed in the virtual environment using the Unity platform.
I participated mainly in the modeling performed from the tomography file and texturing from recorded photos. I participated in the creation and development of the construction of the virtual reality experience.
This work was the result of a partnership between the LAPID and SESHAT laboratories of the National Museum, the NEXT and EAI laboratories of the Department of Arts & Design of PUC-Rio, and the VISGRAF laboratory of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics, IMPA. The process of tomography of Egyptian artifacts has been carried out by the NEXT laboratory in partnership with the LAPID laboratory, the National Institute of Technology, INT, and the Imaging Diagnostics Clinic, CDPI, since 2003. During this period, around 150 pieces were tomography and cataloged. The VISGRAF laboratory has been developing research and projects in virtual reality since 1997.
The project was presented at SEMNA 2019 Egyptology Week at the National Museum, at PUC-Rio Design Week, at SIGGRAPH Asia 2020 and at the Eurographics Workshop on Graphics and Cultural Heritage 2020 conference.
Access other information and complete documentation on the project website at https://visgraf.impa.br/v-horus/
Research team
National Museum
Antonio Brancaglion Jr., Sergio Azevedo, Pedro Luiz Von Seehausen
Fiocruz
Sheila Mendonça
PUC-Rio
Jorge Lopes, Luiza Novaes, Andrea Lennhoff, Bernardo Alevato, Gerson Ribeiro, Andrea Malanski