Creating Virtual Buddha Statues through Observation

This paper overviews our research on digital preservation of cultural assets and digital restoration of their original appearance. Geometric models are digitally achieved through a pipeline consisting of scanning, registering and merging multiple range images. We have developed a robust simultaneous registration method and an efficient and robust voxel-based integration method. On the geometric models created, we have to align texture images acquired from a color camera. We have developed two texture mapping methods. In an attempt to restore the original appearance of historical heritage objects, we have synthesized several buildings and statues using scanned data and literature survey with advice from experts.