Computer-aided Reconstruction and New Matches in the Forma Urbis Romae

David Koller and Marc Levoy, Stanford University.

Bullettino Della Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma, Supplementi 15, pp. 103-125, 2006.

A version of this paper was also presented at the conference Formae Urbis Romae - Nuove scoperte at the Istituto Archaeologico Germanico in Rome, March 3, 2004.

Abstract:

In this paper, we describe our efforts to apply computer-aided reconstruction algorithms to find new matches and positionings among the fragments of the Forma Urbis Romae. First, we review the attributes of the fragments that may be useful clues for automated reconstruction. Then, we describe several different specific methods that we have developed which make use of geometric computation capabilities and digital fragment representations to suggest new matches. These methods are illustrated with a number of new proposed fragment joins and placements that have been generated from our computer-aided reconstruction process.

Paper