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Digital Technology Helps Reconstruct Historic Digital Cemetery Technology He PHOTO/USFSP
Researchers from USF St. Petersburg and USF Tampa are employing 3D imaging technology to develop a digital recreation of the historic Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine. The resulting 3D model will be used by preservationists to assess the current conditions of the site and to serve as a reference to monitor impacts from natural events and pollution, providing guidelines for restoration and reconstruction in the case of damages.
Originally the site for a Franciscan mission, Tolomato was used as a cemetery dating back to Florida’s British period between 17631783. More than a thousand people are buried at the cemetery, including people from Spain, Cuba, Minorca, Ireland, Greece, Haiti, France and various parts of the African continent.
Researchers from USF St. Petersburg and USF Tam to preserve them for future generations. employing 3D imaging technology to develop a di oflandscape the historictogether Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustin Ultimately, the 3D model of the with the model will be used bywill preservationists to asses individual 3D models of all the3D cemetery’s monuments be conditions the sitetoand to serve integrated with archival data about deathofrecords create an as a reference t impacts from natural events and pollution, provid interactive tour of the Tolomato cemetery. for restoration and reconstruction in the case of d “The use of the 3D model for on-site and an online virtual reality “We are excited to embark on a project designed t experience will provide more inclusive public engagement and preserve and interpret this remarkable site,” said global accessibility,” said Tanasi. Director of USF St. Petersburg’s La Florida: The In Archives the Americas. This project marks the beginning of theof scientifi c partnership between La Florida, which uses interactive maps and digital for aand Franciscan reconstructions to bring to lifeOriginally the signifithe cantsite events diverse mission, Tolom a cemetery dating back to Florida’s cultures that made up early Spanish Florida, and IDEx, which uses British period 1783. More for than a thousand people are buried at t digital tools to preserve cultural heritage future generations. including people fromisSpain, Cuba, Minorca, Irela The field work to develop the digital reconstruction supported Haiti, France and various parts of the African cont by the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association.
In late April, Rachel Sanderson, Associate Director of La Florida, joined Davide Tanasi, Director of the Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx) at USF Tampa, and his team at Tolomato to create the digital reconstruction. They employed imaging technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning, and applied texture mapping techniques to monuments and tombstones to enhance the readability of inscriptions that are currently illegible
late Rachel Sanderson, “We believe this collaboration In will beApril, the first of many researchAssociate Directo Florida, Davide Tanasi, Director of the Instit projects that further bridge USF Tampajoined and USF St Pete, bringing at USF Tampa, and his team at scholars and students togetherExploration to preserve(IDEx) and share Florida’s to create digital reconstruction. They employe rich history with a global audience,” saidthe Francis. technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning, an This story was provided by the University of Southtechniques Florida. to monuments and to texture mapping enhance the readability of inscriptions that are cu
“We are excited to embark on a project designed to document, preserve and interpret this remarkable site,” said Michael Francis, Director of USF St. Petersburg’s La Florida: The Interactive Digital Archives of the Americas.
July/August 2019
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