The goal of the Codex 4D project, carried out by CNR ISPC and University of Rome Tor Vergata, is to create an interdisciplinary experience with the ancient codex, at both historical-artistic and diagnostic- conservative levels. To integrate in a coherent space all the information about the visible elements and the elements hidden in the sub-surface layers, a 4D model of the ancient codex was elaborated, explorable in the three canonical dimensions and in the successive depth layers. This is made possible by the integration of photogrammetry, reflectography and thermography techniques. Several outputs were developed that differ in type of users, context of use, and type of experience.
A multimedia website codex4d.it was designed for in-depth educational purposes, in which methodologies, technologies, and results of the research are recounted.
Codex4D web app with annotated 4D
An 3D Web App, was designed for the scientific visualisation and analytical exploration of the manuscripts models in 4D, intended for more expert users.
A holographic showcase was designed as a mixed reality installation for museum and library audiences adopting dramaturigcal storytelling and gamification techniques. The project experiments new languages in scientific communication that can arouse emotion and motivate the public to knowledge.
In 2024, the Codex 4D project won the Heritage in Motion award, in the category Virtual and Augmented reality, with the following motivation: «This innovative project has been recognised for its groundbreaking work in making fragile historical manuscripts accessible to both scientific and general audiences, embodying the essence of the “heritage in motion” through innovation and preservation.
Codex4D holographic showcase