A Tool for the Analysis and Virtual Reality Visualization of the Virtual Restoration of Cultural Heritage 3D Models

Abstract

This paper introduces Model Checker, an open-source plugin for Blender designed to analyse distance discrepancies between 3D models and visualize the results using heatmaps. It is designed for analysing discrepancies during retopology and restoration processes, seamlessly integrated into the Blender environment. The plugin extracts minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation distances between models, visualized with heatmaps based on adaptable thresholds. It also provides change tracking in the heatmaps, facilitating comparison between different project versions. Heatmaps are exportable as textures and compatible with immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) visualization within Blender, enabling convenient analysis and visualization within the workspace. Comparative analysis with CloudCompare reveals an error margin of maximum 1mm for Model Checker, making it suitable for tasks requiring similar precision. The results indicate its suitability as a viable alternative in projects requiring millimetric precision restoration, particularly notable for its integration into modelling software, change control, and iVR visualization capabilities. Future development efforts should focus on optimizing the process to enhance both accuracy and analysis time.