This document provides guidance for creating 3D models and graphics for an archaeological simulation app called Invisible Buildings. It discusses starting with a 3D Sketchup model of the site and using it to create a ruin that can be reconstructed. Geophysics data is adapted to provide underground clues. Future projects are outlined, including a Roman villa, Elizabethan theatre, and Regency townhouse. Specific instructions are given to model the brewhouse and bakery buildings at Lewes Priory using available drawings, geophysics data, and scale references.

1. Invisible Buildings: 3D
models and scenery
Guide to creating the graphics

2. Introduction
Invisible Buildings is an archaeological simulation/app that is played outdoors on a smartphone or tablet.
It allows school children to dig up (virtually) a building through a series of techniques that are used in real
life by archaeologists. These include metal detecting, geophysics, digging and reconstructing.
On completion of the tasks, the children are shown a fly-through of what the building might have looked
like.
From the graphics point of view, we start with the 3D model and create everything else from this. In the
next few slides we show how we did it for our first game - the Roman Villa
It may help to look at a video of the app in action here - https://goo.gl/LG4gtn

3. Start with Sketchup model
We started with a model that someone
had already put in the 3D warehouse. We
created our own fly-through. See video to
the right or here
For future games, we will ask for models
to be created for us, and a simple fly-
through to be created.

4. Use the 3D model to create a ruin.
Starting with an “interesting” view of the
3D model, create a snapshot of the
building.
Turn it into a ruin, by cutting bits away.
Cut the ruin into 10 pieces and make a
base onto which they can fit. Use the
geophys image on the base (see next
page). Add dots for guide to where
pieces go.

5. Geophysics
Geophys is like radar for underground
buildings
Get an image from Sketchup of base
from above. Adapt for reconstruction
image
Distort and make like real geophys
image

6. Our projects
We want to create a range of Invisible Buildings that represent different eras in
British history. These are:
Roman villa (redo with a better villa)
Elizabethan theatre
Regency townhouse (early 1800s)
Plus we are going to create some site specific apps, the first of which will be
Lewes Priory - details on the next slides

7. Lewes Priory on Invisible Buildings
You can get a good overview from
the Lewes Priory website
We are interested in creating one
specific group of buildings - the
brewhouse and bakery. These are
highlighted on the interactive
drawing but see next slide for more
detail
these buildings here

8. Bakery and
Brewery
These drawings are
based on real
geophys data but
are the artist’s
impression of what
they might really
have looked like.

9. Geophys Data
A survey was carried out in recent years
which identifies the position of buildings
that are no longer visible.
The lower building is supposed to be
part of the brewhouse/bakery
The drawing on the previous page was
created from this survey

10. What needs doing
Create a Sketchup model of the brewery and bakery combined. Use the drawings
and the geophys data for reference.
Having created the model, make a fly-through showing the features.
Create a ruin of the building by removing large areas of the model
Cut the ruin into 10 pieces so they can be fitted together to make the ruin
There is no need to make a geophys drawing as we would use the real data
That’s it! The next slide gives an indication of scale then there are some photos of
real buildings of the 1500s for reference

11. Geophys in relation to imagined buildings

12. Floorplan - sized from visible ruin of adjacent building

13. Buildings of the time of Lewes Priory (1)

14. Buildings of the time of Lewes Priory (2)