3D Reconstruction of Teishebaini

Teishebaini, founded in the 7th century BCE, was an ancient city-fortress of the Urartian Kingdom. This 3D reconstruction project aims to recreate the architectural layout of the fortress based on archaeological findings, as well as its overall appearance and interior details, drawing from historical records of Urartu.

This article outlines the key stages of the project: teishebaini.lbproject.xyz

Project Stages

1. Terrain Modeling Using Geodata

To ensure accuracy, the landscape was modeled using orthophotos and geodata of Karmir Blur hill, located in modern-day Yerevan. A high-polygon terrain map was created to represent the area’s relief, which was later optimized for use in the 3D scene.

2. Creating a 2D Plan

The foundation of the reconstruction relied on archaeological plans, which were converted into a polygonal format using 3D editing tools. This provided the base structure for further modeling.

3. Aligning the 2D Plan with Real Dimensions

The 2D plan served as the basis for constructing the fortress walls and floors. By overlaying the plan onto the 3D terrain model, the fortress dimensions were adjusted to match the real-life scale and archaeological orthophotos.

4. Developing the 3D Scene

• 3D Modeling

The modeling process included creating detailed walls, towers, floors, and urban structures. Archaeological data and historical records from the Urartian and Assyro-Babylonian periods were used to ensure accuracy. In cases where exact details were unavailable, proportions were adjusted using average human height as a reference.

• Texturing

Textures were created based on materials commonly used during the time, such as mudbrick, stone, and wood. Normal maps were applied to add depth and detail to surfaces. Frescoes were recreated using archaeological findings, with patterns adapted for wall textures.

• 3D Scene Optimization

As the project was designed for web-based viewing, including mobile devices, optimization was a priority. Textures and polygon meshes were streamlined, and the final scene was exported in .gltf format to maintain a balance between quality and performance.

5. Web Development

The most technically complex phase of the project involved writing 1,674 lines of code.

The web application was built using:

• Next.js with App Router for efficient routing;

• TypeScript and Tailwind CSS for adaptive design;

• Three.js and react-three-fiber for 3D graphics integration;

• @react-three/drei to simplify the use of 3D models and effects.

Visual effects, including fire particles, water simulations, and clouds, were implemented using Framer Motion and Three.js. Compression algorithms and device-specific optimizations ensured smooth performance without sacrificing quality.

Conclusion

This project is a non-commercial initiative and a personal experiment to explore the potential of 3D visualizations in promoting historical and cultural heritage.

I welcome your feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future collaborations. If you are interested in accessing project materials, feel free to contact me via email

25.11.2024