3D models for archaeology

The use of 3D survey for the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage is continuously growing. The great success of these survey methods is not only due to the spectacular effects of the three-dimensional products but also to the great versatility of applicable technologies, which allow quick and not invasive actions on the archaeological heritage. Some recent European projects focused on the application of 3D technologies in archaeology and tried to address the problem of the acquisition and dissemination of the data in three dimensions. In the framework of the Project 3D-ICONS, aimed to digitize a series of architectural and archaeological masterpieces with particular reference to European culture, several large archaeological models were acquired in Pompeii, with different techniques. The future of such techniques is in the right integration among them. This is necessary to take full advantage of their potential.