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Development and evaluation of a digital tool for virtual reconstruction of historic Islamic geometric patterns

For the purpose of cultural heritage preservation, the task of recording and
reconstructing visually complicated architectural geometrical patterns is facing many
practical challenges. Existing traditional technologies rely heavily on the subjective
nature of our perceptual power in understanding its complexity and depicting its color
differences. This study explores one possible solution, through utilizing digital
techniques for reconstructing detailed historical Islamic geometric patterns. Its main
hypothesis is that digital techniques offer many advantages over the human eye in terms
of recognizing subtle differences in light and color. The objective of the study is to
design, test and evaluate an automatic visual tool for identifying deteriorated or
incomplete archaeological Islamic geometrical patterns captured in digital images, and
then restoring them digitally, for the purpose of producing accurate 2D reconstructed
metric models.
An experimental approach is used to develop, test and evaluate the specialized
software. The goal of the experiment is to analyze the output reconstructed patterns for
the purpose of evaluating the digital tool in respect to reliability and structural accuracy,
from the point of view of the researcher in the context of historic preservation. The
research encapsulates two approaches within its methodology; Qualitative approach is
evident in the process of program design, algorithm selection, and evaluation.
Quantitative approach is manifested through using mathematical knowledge of pattern generation to interpret available data and to simulate the rest based on it. The
reconstruction process involves induction, deduction and analogy.
The proposed method was proven to be successful in capturing the accurate
structural geometry of the deteriorated straight-lines patterns generated based on the
octagon-square basic grid. This research also concluded that it is possible to apply the
same conceptual method to reconstruct all two-dimensional Islamic geometric patterns.
Moreover, the same methodology can be applied to reconstruct many other pattern
systems. The conceptual framework proposed by this study can serve as a platform for
developing professional softwares related to historic documentation. Future research
should be directed more towards developing artificial intelligence and pattern
recognition techniques that have the ability to suplement human power in accomplishing
difficult tasks.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/2519
Date01 November 2005
CreatorsAl Ajlouni, Rima Ahmad
ContributorsWarden, Robert B.
PublisherTexas A&M University
Source SetsTexas A and M University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeBook, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text
Format9460885 bytes, electronic, application/pdf, born digital

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