Immersive Reachability Planning for the Excavation of Cultural Heritage Objects

Extracting delicate artefacts in complex archaeological block excavations, such as retrieving human remains embedded in sedimentary rock in the proximity of other highly brittle assets, requires precise planning to avoid damage during this process. Traditional planning methods that rely on 2D slice-based imaging often fail to convey the intricate 3D spatial relationships and occlusions present within dense sediment. This work presents a first step towards an immersive planning tool for the virtual exploration of archaeological artifacts embedded in block excavations. We propose a virtual reality framework for photogrammetry data that computes the spatial reachability of excavation tools such as brushes or shovels with regards to 3D objects of interest. Reachability information is projected onto the object's surface using color-coded overlays that indicate which regions can be approached by a selected tool without intersecting and thus endangering surrounding structures. These surface heatmaps allow experts to identify sediment areas that can potentially be removed while minimizing the risk of damaging adjacent artifacts. Furthermore, optimal reachability trajectories towards a predefined target position can be achieved for succeeding analysis tasks such as DNA sampling. Our immersive environment reduces the risk of accidental damage during physical excavation by improving the user's spatial understanding and interaction with cultural heritage objects.