ISPRS-Archives The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ISPRS-Archives Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci. 2194-9034 Copernicus Publications Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W3-121-2017 VIRTUAL DIVING IN THE UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF CALA MINNOLA Bruno F. 1 Lagudi A. 1 Barbieri L. 1 Muzzupappa M. 1 Mangeruga M. 2 Pupo F. 2 Cozza M. 3 Cozza A. 3 Ritacco G. 3 Peluso R. 3 Tusa S. 4 Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (DIMEG), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy Department of Electronics, Computer Science and System Sciences (DIMES), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy 3DResearch S.r.l., 87036 Rende (CS), Italy Soprintendenza del Mare della Regione Sicilia 90133 Palermo, Italy 23 02 2017 XLII-2/W3 121 126 Copyright: © 2017 F. Bruno et al. 2017 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This article is available from https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLII-2-W3/121/2017/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W3-121-2017.html The full text article is available as a PDF file from https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLII-2-W3/121/2017/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W3-121-2017.pdf

The paper presents the application of the technologies and methods defined in the VISAS project for the case study of the underwater archaeological site of Cala Minnola located in the island of Levanzo, in the archipelago of the Aegadian Islands (Sicily, Italy). The VISAS project (http://visas-project.eu) aims to improve the responsible and sustainable exploitation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by means the development of new methods and technologies including an innovative virtual tour of the submerged archaeological sites. <br><br> In particular, the paper describes the 3D reconstruction of the underwater archaeological site of Cala Minnola and focus on the development of the virtual scene for its visualization and exploitation. The virtual dive of the underwater archaeological site allows users to live a recreational and educational experience by receiving historical, archaeological and biological information about the submerged exhibits, the flora and fauna of the place.