REVIEW OF AUGMENTED REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNIQUES IN ROCK ART

The usage of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies began to grow when smartphones appeared. Until then, the number of portable devices capable of incorporating these technologies was reduced. Video games are the main field where these technologies are applied, but in other fields such as in archaeology, these technologies can offer many advantages. Ruins reconstruction, ancient life simulation, highly detailed 3D models visualisation of valuable objects from the past or even user free movement in missing places are just some examples found in literature. This paper reviews the latest visualisation technologies and their applicability to the rock art field. The main purpose is to disseminate rock art paintings through AR and VR applications. After the image-based three-dimensional (3D) modelling is obtained, an interactive visit to a shelter for displaying rock art paintings is presented. This is one of examples developed in this paper that pretends to apply the revised AR and VR techniques. In addition, an example of AR is developed that can be easily adapted to further applications displaying rock art paintings.