| A team of experts have developed a
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| | topography of ancient Rome at various
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| digital computer model of the ancient
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| | periods of time.'
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| city in 320AD, bring the past a little
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| | The $2 million project at this early
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| closer to the present.
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| | stage, allows viewers to navigate their
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| Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither
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| | way around the city by using simple
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| was the technology that has scientists,
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| | keyboard controlls. They can enter
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| archaeologists, historians and computer
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| | buildings including the Colosseum, the
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| game fans excited all at once. An
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| | Senate, the Forum and Temple of Venus,
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| international team of experts has
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| | even private residences to examine
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| unveiled a 'virtual Rome' program, the
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| | details of the interior including
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| worlds biggest and most complex computer
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| | frescoes and decorative details of the
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| simulation of what the ancient city was
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| | buildings.
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| like in 320 AD, under the rule of
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| | At the Colosseum for example, the arena
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| Constantine. An era considered to be the
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| | floor, and seating areas can be viewed,
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| most powerful peak Rome experienced
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| | as well as the underground chambers onced
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| during ancient times.
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| | used to house wild animals caught and
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| The project, a culmination of ten years
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| | stabled for public events such as
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| of work and a collaberation of experts in
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| | gladiator matches. One can even view the
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| architecture, archaeology and computer
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| | operation of elevators used to move the
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| programmers from the United States,
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| | animals into the area from their holding
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| Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom,
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| | cells.
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| was introduced in June this year under
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| | Selected sites are accompanied by text
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| the title of 'Rome Reborn'. It's a
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| | descriptions about details of the site
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| digital, interractive model of the city
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| | such as it's history and structural
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| that features more than 7,000 buildings
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| | points of interest, which can also be
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| and structures, which the viewer can
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| | expanded as new information comes to
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| enter and explore in real-time 3D
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| | hand.
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| animation.
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| | Developers have pointed to several uses
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| At the unveiling, Bernard Frischer,
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| | for the program, which is already
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| project deveoper said 'This is the first
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| | available to industry proffesionals for
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| step in the creation of a virtual time
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| | further research and study.
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| machine, which our children and
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| | According to Frischer, '3D modeling is
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| grandchildren will use to study the
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| | the natural evolution of archaeological
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| history of Rome and many other great
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| | research, allowing possibilities for
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| cities around the world.'
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| | studies on light accoustics, and
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| The mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni has
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| | ventilation, and other aspects of
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| also praised the project, saying 'It's a
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| | structural engineering techniques used in
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| fascinating experience, re-created with
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| | ancient times.'
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| all the necessary historical and
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| | He explains that even for the experts
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| philological care. In other words, it
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| | who's life work involves the study and
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| will allow us to to be in the Roman Forum
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| | analysis of ancient cities, viewing their
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| and understand the context we are in.'
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| | project sites in 3D forces them to
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| To create the program, digital pictures
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| | consider details like this about the
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| were taken of the Plastico di Roma
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| | sites that they havent in the past.
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| Antica, a 16 x 17 meter sized plaster
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| | A purpose built theatre at the UCLA
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| model which was built in 1934-74 and is
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| | provides access to the model on a 24 x
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| currently on display at the Museum of
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| | 9ft screen that gives 160 degree views of
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| Roman Civilization. These images were
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| | the program when viewed with 3D glasses,
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| combined with information from laser
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| | but those of us at home interested in the
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| scans taken of whats left of the remains
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| | project can view samples of the
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| of these buildings today. Ancient maps
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| | simulation through the internet. The
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| and building catalogues were also used by
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| | developers hope that the project will
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| the project developers to reproduce
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| | expand to include other ancient cities
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| buildings like apartments, houses, and
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| | around the world, and be available for
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| shops as accurately as possible.
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| | purposes like education, and even
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| Each site that features in the program is
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| | commercial uses like a 'home study' kit
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| accredited by independant 'recognised
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| | for tourists planning a visit to Rome,
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| authorities'. These authorities are
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| | interested in the history of the city.
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| historians and archaeologists who have
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| | Plans are already in place to make the
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| worked on each particular site over many
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| | model available for viewing at an
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| years and are considered industry
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| | orientation centre opposite the Colosseum
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| experts, to ensure these ancient sites
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| | in the near future. In the mean time, the
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| are portrayed accurately, according to
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| | team is focusing on developing the Rome
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| the evidence which exists to date.
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| | model earlier and later in time, from as
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| The project website expains however, that
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| | early as the Bronze Age up to the Gothic
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| the project has been produced in such a
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| | Wars.
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| way that it can be updated should future
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| | With sponsors like Intel and Microsoft
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| evidence or archaeological findings
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| | funding the development of the project,
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| determine innaccuracies in the model.
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| | chances are it wont be long before time
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| 'The model is a representation of the
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| | travel will be possible for the average
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| state of our knowledge (and implicitly,
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| | family, at least through your TV or
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| of our ignorance) about the urban
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| | computer screen, that is.
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