Cultural Heritage Imaging : Featured Projects

The CHI team is working on a number of projects all over the world. Recently, CHI has been adapting Reflection Transformation Imaging (RTI) technology for a wide variety of artifacts and objects.

CHI projects take place in such far-flung places as Switzerland, Portugal, and Southern California. Our projects can occur out in the field, at an excavation, in an archaeology laboratory, museum, university, or cultural heritage institution. The following links lead to detailed pages for specific projects. We are always adding new project material. Check this page frequently for the latest updates.

Developing Advanced Technologies for the Imaging of Cultural Heritage Objects

CHI and the University of Southern California (USC)’s West Semitic Research Project formed a partnership and won an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant to supercharge HP Lab’s RTI technology to document museum objects. USC and CHI teams, with assistance from HP Labs researchers, are developing new tools to document and disseminate material from USC's Archaeological Research Collection.

UNESCO Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley, a World Heritage Site in Portugal

In Summer 2006, CHI visited world-class rock art sites in Portugal to collaborate with staff from the Parque Arqueologico do Vale do Côa (PAVC) site, the Centro Nacional de Arte Rupestre (CNART) group, and scholars at the Universidade do Minho. CHI and their Portuguese collaborators pioneered a new method to document rock art without touching or disturbing the rock art. These new techniques permit relighting from any direction and provide tools that disclose the finest surface details.

Rock art RTI gallery.

Photo Gallery: Portugal

Switzerland 2005: Alpine Expedition

In late 2005, CHI hit the high road in Switzerland, working on 3 major artifact collections protected by dedicated archivists. The team documented Greek, Roman, and Celtic treasure hoards of gold and silver coins, medieval document seals, sculptures, oil paintings, Celtic animal ceramics, and a gorgeous 3700-year-old bronze neck piece.

Swiss 2005 gallery.

Photo Gallery: Lausanne, Switzerland
Photo Gallery: Simplon, Switzerland

Switzerland 2004: Grand St. Bernard Pass, Swiss/Italian Border

CHI joined the Stanford Alpine Archaeology project and the Archeologique du Musee de l'Hospice du Grand St. Bernard in the St. Bernard Pass to document Roman jewelry, spearheads, ancient glass bottles, ceramic oil lamps, coins, and bronze sculptures and masks.

PTM gallery of coins
Move the light to see incredible detail on ancient coins from the Monastery collection.

Object Movie gallery of artifacts.
Spin Roman artifacts including bronzes, glass, ceramics and rings.

Photo Gallery:
Grand St. Bernard Pass, Swiss/Italian Border

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	Featured Publication: "New Reflection Transformation Imaging Methods for Rock Art and Multiple-Viewpoint Display"
	"VAST 2006 Best Paper Award"


	Featured Publication: "Reflection Transformation Imaging and Virtual Representations of Coins from the Hospice of the Grand St. Bernard"