For which research questions should we use 3D modeling?
In a digital humanities project, ideally, we provide an accessible interface accessible to the users. That accessibility could sometimes be improved by 3D visualization, but sometimes it could not. For example, consider a project where we investigate a Javanese village civilization prior Dutch colonization in Indonesia. We then ask ourselves what do we want our users to experience? Alternatively, we ask ourselves, what really is the research question–something that we would like to share with our users? If our question is “how did a typical Javanese village look like prior the colonization?” then it would be natural to create a 3D model of such village to help the users imagine how the village looks like. However, if our question is “how was a Javanese village governed?” then creating a 3D model of such village would not really add any value to our presentation. Generally, we would naturally like to investigate physical objects or places by observing and researching their 3D components. This would not be the case when we look into a timeline or an abstract structure. Exceptions of course do exist in both cases, but research questions that involves “physical objects or places” with a goal to allow the users to experience the outcome of our project visually could often use the help of such 3D modeling.
Manual Modeling vs. Procedural Modeling vs. Scanning vs. Photogrammetry
We use manual modeling when we need to include specific details of the object we try to model. It would make sense to use such method when we have comprehensive data to support the process of creating the model. However, when our data is more general and when details can sometimes be neglected, then we could use procedural modeling to compromise with such lack of details but available general “rules”. If we want to model the exterior of a specific building, then we probably want to have all the details to do manual modeling. However, if our model includes hundreds of buildings of various styles, then we can create a rule set for each styles and generate the model by procedural modeling.
Photogrammetry is often useful when we have a landscape that can be viewed from multiple angles. This technique is similar to scanning, but not as accurate, since we rely on camera settings and algorithms that fill in the gaps between images. Scanning works better when we have the required tools. It provides the most accurate representation of our object. However, to achieve such accuracy, we do need to have the actual object. This means that scanning works as a “digitization” process of an existing object of interest.
On the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893
As we have discussed in class, this visual simulation model does provide great details of The Streets in Cairo and The Transportation Building the 1893 Exposition. The model however feels so artificial due to the imaging quality. Shadows of objects and buildings often do not work so smoothly that an object and its shadow sometimes looks like two separate entities. Moreover, the models, especially the model of The Streets in Cairo, often use unrealistic coloring that is too perfect. The placement of people on the model does add more realistic values but is sometimes awkward and, again, feels unrealistic. Aside from the models, the website also seems to need an update, since the interface is a bit too old. Moreover, the videos are only available through download which can be cumbersome. Overall, this project did a great work in depicting the exposition, but it needs to pay more attention to image quality and to improve the web interface.
