Practical Augmented Visualization on Handheld Devices for Cultural Heritage - Case of Study: Nervar

We present a framework for interactive 3D visualization of archaeological sites on handheld devices using fast Augmented Reality techniques. The user interface allows for the ubiquitous, personalized and context-aware browsing of complex digital contents, such like 3D models and videos. The system 1) tracks and locates the real environment scenes based on predefined images already deposited in the system, 2) displays the virtual information and 3) aligns and superimposes the virtual data on to the real environment scenes. The framework implements context-aware tracking, 3D alignment and visualization of graphical models at interactive rate. Using this framework, the user is free to roam around archaeological sites using not-invasive and already in use devices such as modern smartphones and tablets. The framework is composed by free, cross-platform software modules, making it easier to reproduce.