The 3D reconstruction and visualization of Seokguram Grotto World Heritage Site

Abstract

Seokguram Grotto is the most notable heritage site of the Shilla dynasty, representing the Buddhist rock art with various architectural, mathematical and geometrical skills. Owing to its universal value and a representative masterpiece of Buddhist culture around the world, it was listed as a World Heritage Site in December 1995 under the UNESCO World Heritage Criteria for Selection. Due to its enormous cultural significance and diverse location, the site witnesses various environmental conditions and tourism pressure which affects its prestigious status and sustainability. This raises the need of a 3D reconstruction and visualization, and presentation. 3D scanning approach is a generally accepted technique for the collection of 3D representation of heritage sites. For this reason, the laser scan technology was extensively used by measuring 3D surface coordinates to produce a complete 3D digital replica of Seokguram Grotto. Particularly, laser scanning technique was used to collect various 3D scan data, featuring high data acquisition rates, good accuracy and high 3D data density. The scan data were then optimized to produce geometric accuracy and visual quality of the collected textured 3D models. Our approach has enabled us to produce a complete 3D stereoscopic exhibition of Seokguram Grotto.