Virtual Reality Models Based on Photogrammetric Surveys-A Case Study of the Iconostasis of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Church of Saint Nicholas in Sremski Karlovci (Serbia)

Featured Application This work presents the process of creating a virtual reality application based on photogrammetric surveying of cultural heritage objects for iconostasis, as an important element of a church's cultural heritage. The proposed workflow comprises photogrammetric surveying and modeling, 3D model optimization and retopology, followed by control and analysis, and creating a VR application. The final result is shown as an interactive VR tour through the church that allows a user to visualize the iconostasis in a way it cannot be perceived in real life. Abstract During recent years, the synergy of virtual reality (VR) and photogrammetry has become an increasingly prevalent way to visualize, represent, preserve and disseminate cultural heritage objects. Photogrammetry offers a reliable method for a faithful and accurate image-based modeling of real-world objects, while VR applications provide not only visualization, but also an immersive and interactive experience of the photogrammetrically reconstructed cultural heritage. This research aims to create and apply the method for providing VR experience in the context of cultural heritage by developing a workflow for the VR applications based on photogrammetric models. The proposed workflow was applied on the iconostasis of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral church of Saint Nicholas in Sremski Karlovci (Serbia). The presented method is based on the following main steps: generation ofan accurate 3D reconstruction of the iconostasisusing photogrammetry, the 3D model optimization, retopology, control and analysis and the process of creating the VR experience using a game-engine. The final result is an interactive walk through the church, which provides the user with an opportunity to visualize the iconostasis and its individual icons through different perspectives and multiple levels of detail, which is not otherwise possible when observing the church interior.