TORCH (en)coding Heritage Network Digital Launch - Exploring Ancient Rome through Immersive Technologies

This digital event explores how 3D-modelling technologies and
virtual reality can open new understandings of the past. Prof
Matthew Nicholls describes the creation of a large-scale 3D model
of Ancient Rome, exploring the use of computer modelling in the
study of ancient structures. Richard Smith brings the technological
perspective, discussing the tools which enable the exploration of
such a model in virtual reality. The talk will focus particularly
on the Theatre of Pompey, a Roman theatre complex, completed in 55
BCE, which no longer survives. Prof Matthew Nichols is Senior Tutor
at St. John's College Oxford. He previously held a lectureship and
then a chair in Classics at the University of Reading. There he
developed a large scale 3D model of ancient Rome, which he has used
extensively in teaching, research, outreach, and commercial work,
winning several national awards for teaching and innovation.
Richard Smith is Technology Support Officer at the Bodleian
Libraries, Oxford, where he provides technology support and 3D
printing, advises on 3D modelling and AR/VR projects, and leads
training courses on immersive technologies. He is also the
co-founder of the Oxford X-Reality Hub, Oxford's central resource
for virtual and augmented reality. Dr Lia Costiner – Merton
College, hosted this event as founder of the (en)coding Heritage
TORCH Network.