Ancient city comes to life
Millions of people around the world gained an insight into the 13th century Cambodian city of Angkor following a painstaking reconstruction by a team led by Monash IT academic Tom Chandler.
National Geographic featured the world-class 3D visualisation study as part of an Angkor special in the July 2009 edition. At its height Angkor was one of the largest cities in the world.
Mr Chandler has worked with a dedicated team of graduates to visualise the landscapes and daily life at Angkor 800 years ago, using 3D modelling technologies and a wide range of archaeological and historical data.
In line with the renewed archaeological emphasis on Angkor as a medieval metropolis, these animations aim to depict the city beyond the famous temples that have today become a major tourist destination.
A set of eight of these animations appears at Khmer Empire interactive presentation on the National Geographic website. The project demonstrates a long and productive collaboration between Monash University and archaeologists from the University of Sydney Greater Angkor Project.
Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the project was a great example of the opportunities for students through the Monash Passport - involving the work of honours and graduate students on an innovative world-first project.
"I was deeply impressed to take a virtual walk through the streets of Angkor. Tom Chandler's team have researched the archaeology of a whole range of creatures and elements to ensure the characters and soundscapes are realistic - it's a magnificent example of world-class innovation at Monash".
The motion graphic pieces constitute the visual output of an extensive computer model of Angkor that was almost four years in the making. The creation would have been impossible without the dedication of a team of Monash IT graduates and digital specialists.
