3D texture modeling of an important cycle of Renaissance frescoes in Italy

The paper describes the steps of the 3D texture modeling of an important cycle of Renaissance frescoes located in the Church of Saint Anthony Abbot in San Daniele del Friuli (Italy). Starting from surveying data acquired by means of a laser scanning and photogrammetric integrated system, a detailed photorealistic 3D model has been obtained. The construction and the optimization of the surfaces from the point cloud were the first fundamental steps of the data processing, making so possible the geometrical modeling of the frescoes. Successively, the acquired digital images were photogrammetrically projected onto such mesh surfaces. Afterwards, the textured model has been imported in the computer vision immersive VRML/X3D environment. This virtual model is a tool useful both to experts and to real or virtual visitor, since the model will be accessible by web. It allows a 3D exploration following a free trajectory defined by the user and/or following some thematic routes. Furthermore, the frescoes subjects have been linked with the corresponding card of the web databases of the historical artistic and archaeological heritage of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.