Virtual reconstruction of Vitoria-Gasteiz
between the 9th and 12th centuries
.
The origins of Vitoria-Gasteiz
A virtual reconstruction project combined with video post-production for the making of the documentary "The origins of Vitoria-Gasteiz".
The origins of a city
Why is this project important to us?
Archaeological studies
We could reach a very high level of realism due to the 20 years of archaeological research by the UPV-EHU through its research group GPAC.
These excavations, whose epicenter is under the Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria, had provided very precise information about the origins of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
dissemination
The Santa María de Vitoria-Gasteiz Cathedral Foundation promoted this project, seeking to expand the dissemination of archaeological and historical research.
Process optimization
This project was ideal for our team because we are specialized in the optimization of resources in the virtual reconstruction of medieval urban centers. We have spent several years analyzing and researching how to achieve the best possible results with the minimum investment of resources.
Multidisciplinary team
For a project of this magnitude, specialists in various fields were required: 3D modeling and texturing, enviroments, particles, lighting, post-production and compositing, so our experience in the Audiovisual Communication Area at the University of Burgos was essential to achieve the expected results.
Optimized 3D modeling
This project covered several centuries of the origins of Vitoria-Gasteiz, with different urban layouts and types of buildings. For this purpose, a very detailed storyboard was defined in order to calculate the level of detail required for each model. Several models of different structures were made trying to optimize modeling times, carrying out a structural process, reusing all the possible models between the different phases.
Texture hunters
We travelled hundreds of kilometers through the provinces of Alava and Burgos in search of usable textures for the Vitoria-Gasteiz of the High Middle Ages. We found dozens of examples of popular constructions made of tapial, adobe, vegetable and stone with which we made a database of more than 1300 textures edited and adapted to the models we were going to use.
Lighting and Rendering
Several lighting configurations were made that favored the aesthetics of the plans and the highlighting of the structures on the map, seeking to singularize the urban layout.
Post-production
In the next phase, recordings of actors and actresses were made and embedded in the renders. For these recordings, several costumes were designed and manufactured, which were combined to try to have as much heterogeneity as possible, favoring the realism of the shots.
Work Team
This project was financed by the Provincial Council of Alava and coordinated from the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation. The historical and archaeological contents were coordinated by José Luis Solaun and Ismael García from the GPAC research group of the UPV-EHU. This was the team of the virtual reconstruction and edition process:

Mario Alaguero Rodríguez
Profesor del Área de Comunicación Audiovisual y Publicidad de la Universidad de Burgos.
Samuel Arias Tejedor
Técnico especialista en enviroment, renderizado y programación. Universidad de Burgos.
David Serrano Fernández
Artista generalista 3D, VFX y motion graphics. Universidad de Burgos.