Title: A survey on the digital enhancement of the archaeological sites on Google and a multimedia pilot project in the Agrigento Valley of the Temples in Sicily (Italy)

Authors: Elisa Bonacini

Addresses: CVAST – Center for Virtualization and Applied Spatial Technologies, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., 33620 Tampa, Florida, USA; Istituto Euro Mediterraneo di Scienza e Tecnologia (IEMEST), Via Michele Miraglia, 20, 90139 Palermo, Italy

Abstract: Aim of this paper is to offer a survey of the Google strategy on the enhancement of the archaeological sites in the world and a preview of the pilot project in progress at the UNESCO site Agrigento Valley of the Temples. We managed to map all the area of the Temple of Juno Lacinia, which is now the only Greek temple that can be visited online on a 360° tour on a Google platform, browsable inside. Also some point of interest will be selected which can be clicked and explored, taking captions with descriptive sheets of architectural and decorative elements, capitals, columns, 3D reconstructions, videos and aerial virtual tours realised with drones. They will be soon available in Italian and in English languages and in audio mode. In the next future the entire valley will be mapped and browsable in such a way.

Keywords: virtual heritage; digital heritage; digital archaeology; virtual archaeology; virtual tour; Italian cultural heritage; Sicilian cultural heritage; virtual museums; Google Street View; Google Cultural Institute; Google Arts & Culture; democratisation of culture; virtual tourism; Italy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITST.2017.085733

International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions, 2017 Vol.7 No.1, pp.28 - 50

Received: 26 Oct 2016
Accepted: 14 Feb 2017
Published online: 10 Aug 2017 *

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