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Virtual Revisiting of Architectural Masterpieces and the Problem of Lighting Simulation

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Cyberworlds

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Summary

One of the most successful applications of Virtual Reality is in architecture. This paper discusses exploring destroyed or unbuilt masterpieces of architecture, which could not be appreciated in other way but with the help of computers. The unbuilt Hurva Synagogue, designed by Louis Kahn, is considered as a case study of visualization based on physically accurate lighting simulation. Analysis of this presentation is used to frame more general remarks on adequate lighting calculations, storage and reconstruction of scene illumination, and image display, taking into account human perception.

Also, a practical solution used to render the Hurva Synagogue is outlined. A simple hierarchical algorithm is presented, exploiting the ray tracing technique and calculating ideal diffuse light path. The resulting distribution of illumination is stored in a triangular mesh structure, and used for interactive walkthrough animation. Perceptually based criteria for adaptive mesh subdivision, improving the quality of generated frames, are introduced. The proposed algorithms enable convincingly realistic visualization of the complex interactions of light in the Hurva Synagogue, which is illuminated predominantly by interreflected light components.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Software, The University of Aizu, Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Fukushima 965-80, Japan

    Karol Myszkowski

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  1. Karol Myszkowski
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hosei University, 3-7-2 Kajino-cho, Koganei City, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan

    Tosiyasu L. Kunii (Professor, Senior Partner) (Professor, Senior Partner)

  2. MONOLITH Co., Ltd., 1-7-3 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0045, Japan

    Tosiyasu L. Kunii (Professor, Senior Partner) (Professor, Senior Partner)

  3. ACROE, INPG-46 av. Félix Viallet, 38 031, Grenoble Cedex, France

    Annie Luciani

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© 1998 Springer Japan

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Myszkowski, K. (1998). Virtual Revisiting of Architectural Masterpieces and the Problem of Lighting Simulation. In: Kunii, T.L., Luciani, A. (eds) Cyberworlds. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67941-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67941-7_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-70207-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-67941-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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