The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural

Objects for Future IT Specialists

Ihor V. Hevko

1 a

, Olha I. Potapchuk

1 b

, Iryna B. Lutsyk

1 c

, Viktorya V. Yavorska

2 d

Lesia S. Hiltay

1 e

and Oksana B. Stoliar

1 f

Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, 2 Maksyma Kryvonosa Str., Ternopil, 46027, Ukraine

Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, 2 Dvoryanska Str., Odessa, 65082, Ukraine

Keywords:

Method of Teaching, IT Specialists, 3D Technology, Graphic 3D Reconstruction, Architectural Objects.

Abstract:

The method of teaching future IT specialists modern 3D-technologies of graphic reconstruction of architectural

objects has been developed and tested in the educational process. The peculiarity of the implementation of

the stages of the proposed methodology of graphic reconstruction is exempliﬁed through building the model

of the Parochial Cathedral of St. Mary of the Perpetual Assistance of the 1950s. Sequence and content of

operations for analytical and design engineering stage are substantiated. After analysing and assessing the

most popular specialized software means, the 3DS Max environment is chosen to build a three-dimensional

model. The complex method of graphic reconstruction of historical architectural objects is proposed. This

method consists in constructing a three-dimensional model of an object, based on a combination of a design

technique using modern 3D technologies and methods for analysing archival descriptive information and data

on a set of images using parallax estimation of a data array of stereopairs of images. The cathedral model is

built on the basis of archive photographs and drafts. Reconstruction of spacious conﬁguration of the objects is

based on parallax assessment of images. There are described methods of implementing modelling by 3DS Max

tools and preparing the model for 3D printing in Cura. Substantiated the effectiveness of the proposed training

method to teaching future IT specialists of 3D technologies of graphic reconstruction. This method contributes

to the formation of students’ system of theoretical and practical knowledge on the design of buildings and

structures using modern digital technologies for their graphic reconstruction it has been proved.

1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The current level and pace of development of infor-

mation technology prompts a new look at the essence

and methodology of training IT specialists, whose ac-

tivities are related to the design of environmental ob-

jects. In connection with the rapid development and

introduction of digital technologies in all branches of

human activity, 3D technologies are becoming an im-

portant component of modern education. Now there

are new opportunities for their use in the graphic

reconstruction of architectural objects and are con-

stantly progressing.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1108-2753

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8041-0031

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2943-4358

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8611-9712

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6658-8175

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8579-2881

3D graphics allows you to create spatial models

of various objects, repeating their geometric shapes

and imitating the texture of materials (Kozak, 2016).

It is impossible to replace 3D models in all spheres

of human activity including industry, medicine, ar-

chitecture, construction, design, education, cinema,

etc. Using 3D technologies for design and graphic re-

construction of architectural objects, we can recreate

architectural objects that have been destroyed (Sei-

dametova et al., 2021). This allows you to analyse

the features of the architecture, to recreate the struc-

ture of the object and to correct its model with a high

degree of realism. The importance of researching

this issue is conﬁrmed in the “Declaration of Coop-

eration on advancing the digitisation of cultural her-

itage”, which was signed by 27 European countries

(Commission europ

eenne, 2019b). In particular, the

European Commission’s expert group on the digitiza-

tion of cultural heritage has developed general guide-

lines for a comprehensive, holistic 3D documentation

Hevko, I., Potapchuk, O., Lutsyk, I., Yavorska, V., Hiltay, L. and Stoliar, O.

The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural Objects for Future IT Specialists.

DOI: 10.5220/0010921800003364

In Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology (AET 2020) - Volume 1, pages 119-131

ISBN: 978-989-758-558-6

119

of European cultural heritage sites (Commission eu-

rop

eenne, 2019a).

3D model design enables assessing technical and

physical properties of a modelled object before creat-

ing a real sample. The methods of studying a model

allow analysing its size, material and package con-

tents.

The concept of an object or a project is mainly

exempliﬁed by videos or pictures based on 3D graph-

ics. This sets constraints on viewing, as static pictures

cannot enable plot change or detailed examination.

Modern potential of 3D graphics and computer

hardware capacity enable processing complex scenes

on-line without reducing rendering speed and quality.

This has evoked professionals’ interest to 3D visual-

ization in various activity spheres.

In architecture and bridge engineering, wider ap-

plication is given to virtual buildings with inside

walks and virtual cities. Photorealistic reconstruc-

tion of objects makes it possible to work with object

models in museum, reconstruction and commercial

projects and while studying (Borodkin, 2015).

Maintaining and promulgation of cultural heritage

are essential for modern society. Development of

computers and 3D graphic tools enables preserving

cultural achievements not only as pictures or pho-

tographs but also as models in their original form or

as electronic replicas of real-life objects (Rumyantsev

et al., 2011).

A great number of architectural monuments have

disappeared without any sizes, drafts or photographs

left. For such historical objects, graphic reconstruc-

tion as a scientiﬁc study is the only means of iden-

tifying the lost or destroyed architectural object of a

certain time period. Graphical reconstruction of ar-

chitectural historical heritage reﬂects the whole bulk

of knowledge concerning it available to date (Rozhko,

2013).

In recent years, there have been numerous mu-

seums including the virtual ones with their exhibits

being computerized objects. Museums of this kind

enable obtaining detailed information on historical

achievements, getting to know their origin and facili-

tating cultural development of society.

Therefore, the study of 3D technologies for the

graphic reconstruction of architectural objects by fu-

ture IT specialists is one of the topical areas of re-

search into the problem of their professional training.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Nowadays, innovative technologies of 3D graphics,

modeling and design enable restoring lost historical

objects. Analysis of the degree of investigation re-

veals only certain aspects of 3D modelling covered in

modern scientiﬁc literature.

A signiﬁcant amount of scientiﬁc and pedagog-

ical research is devoted to the consideration of the

problem of using 3D technologies in the process of

training future IT specialists. Technologies for se-

lecting software for 3D modelling and methods of

working with them are described by Osadcha and

Chemerys (Osadcha and Chemerys, 2017). The is-

sues of 3D modeling in architectural design are re-

vealed in (Borodkin, 2015; Rumyantsev et al., 2011;

Rozhko, 2013).

3D modeling as a design and architecture tool is

indirectly touched upon in (Danylenko, 2005).

Despite this, works devoted to the problems of

theory and methods of engineering and graphic train-

ing of students (Bakum and Morozova, 2015; Lavren-

tieva et al., 2021). The issues of professional train-

ing of future IT specialists was examined in (Babkin

et al., 2021; Ozhha, 2012; Osadchyi et al., 2019; Se-

merikov et al., 2020; Varava et al., 2021).

However, the problem of studying 3D technolo-

gies by future IT specialists has its own both theoreti-

cal and methodological features, since it requires con-

sideration in the context of a speciﬁcally graphic type

of activity. For the qualitative formation of students’

practical skills in modelling and printing 3D objects,

it is necessary to introduce the study of such technolo-

gies as an obligatory component of their educational

process (Hevko et al., 2020b, 2021).

The features of creating and using 3D models of

historical architectural objects in the educational pro-

cess are considered in (Milkova et al., 2019; Maietti

et al., 2019). The works (Butnariu et al., 2013; Kot-

siubivska and Baranskyi, 2020; Riabokon, 2002) are

devoted to the study of the capabilities of 3D mod-

elling tools in the tasks of computer reconstruction of

objects of historical and cultural heritage.

At the same time, it is worth noting that integral

scientiﬁc approaches to the method of using 3D tech-

nologies in the graphic reconstruction of architectural

objects, as a component of the professional training

of future IT specialists, are not sufﬁciently disclosed.

Thus, analysis of the scientiﬁc literature makes it

possible to draw conclusions about the need for fur-

ther scientiﬁc research on 3D technologies for the

graphic reconstruction of architectural objects and the

development of appropriate guidelines for training fu-

ture specialists.

The relevance of this problem made it possible to

determine the aim of the paper – to reveal the effec-

tiveness of the method of teaching future IT- special-

ists modern 3D technologies of graphic reconstruc-

AET 2020 - Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology

120

tion of architectural objects.

The research object involves is the process of

teaching 3D technologies for the graphic reconstruc-

tion of architectural objects in the preparation of fu-

ture IT specialists on the example of creating and

printing a 3D model of the Parochial Cathedral of St.

Mary.

The novelty of the research – a comprehensive

methodology for studying the graphic reconstruction

of historical architectural objects has been proposed.

This methodology consists in developing the skills of

constructing a 3D model of an object based on design

technologies according to image analysis using a par-

allax assessment of a stereopair data array of images

of the objects under study.

3 RESULTS

3.1 Substantiation of Teaching Methods

of 3D Technologies of Graphic

Reconstruction

The experts of the Declaration on the Promotion of

the Digitization of Cultural Heritage recommend that

the skills of using 3D technologies be included as part

of the basic knowledge of IT professionals regarding

the restoration of cultural heritage (Commission eu-

rop

eenne, 2019a). Graphic reconstruction profession-

als need to have the necessary knowledge and skills

to design a project well, save raw data and 3D lay-

outs. To solve this problem, an important condition is

the development of training courses for studying 3D

technologies in order to preserve cultural heritage or

3D technologies in general.

The skills of using 3D technologies for the graphic

reconstruction of architectural objects is an impor-

tant component for the professional training of future

IT professionals who can develop practical skills in

working with 3D technologies that are in demand in

the modern labour market.

Therefore, on the basis of the research carried out,

we propose a methodology of teaching graphic 3D re-

construction. The methodology provides the forma-

tion of a system of theoretical and practical knowl-

edge of students for designing buildings and struc-

tures using modern digital technologies of graphic re-

construction.

The proposed methodology is based on the follow-

ing principles: systematic and consistent, accessibil-

ity, clarity, connection between theory and practice, a

combination of the individual and the collective.

The principle of systematicity and consistency

consists in the formation of knowledge, skills and

abilities systematically, in order that each lesson has

little interconnection, and new knowledge is based on

previously acquired knowledge and creates the foun-

dation for the following knowledge. In each topic,

the lesson gradually increases the complexity of the

material. The logical completion of the course is the

implementation of the project in groups, with the help

of which students will improve and consolidate their

knowledge, and will be able to try themselves in team-

work.

The principle of accessibility is that the forms,

methods and content correspond to the capabilities

of students and their level of knowledge in this area.

Therefore, students should already know what graph-

ics are and learn how to build simple models, and only

then start modelling complex objects.

The principle of clarity is applied directly in the

classroom: to demonstrate how to build individual el-

ements in the program and after a while we give stu-

dents the task to reproduce it. Thus, we encourage

them to be attentive in order to be able to complete

tasks and thus develop interest in the course.

The principle of connection between theory and

practice is implemented by students when performing

laboratory work, or tasks of different types. This is

preceded by the study of theory.

The last principle is the combination of the indi-

vidual and the collective. It provides not only work

that is performed individually, but also tasks that re-

quire group execution. It will help students exchange

knowledge, listen to each other in order to complete

the assignment efﬁciently.

Taking into account the correspondence of the set

tasks, we consider it expedient to divide the method

of graphic reconstruction of architectural objects by

means of 3D technologies into the following main

stages: analysis, construction, design, model printing

(ﬁgure 1).

At the analysis stage, students collect the neces-

sary data about the object and the necessary opera-

tions to build a 3D model. Solving such problems

allows students to form analytical skills and a cre-

ative approach to the synthesis of objects based on

the available information.

The construction of an object includes the process

of modelling (creating a 3D model) and the process

of animating (driving existing models or adding ad-

ditional cameras and moving them along certain tra-

jectories). At this stage, students develop engineering

skills through the use of modern software tools and

techniques for their use.

The design phase includes texturing and render-

ing. Solving design problems allows students to form

The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural Objects for Future IT Specialists

121

Figure 1: Stages of project development.

the ability to compose objects in compliance with the

colour scheme, select materials and textures, choose

light sources, change and adjust camera angles.

The ﬁnal stage of the technique is the manufacture

of a model using 3D printing. At this stage, students

develop technological skills in working with modern

equipment: setting the parameters of the 3D printing

process, calibrating the printer table, selecting mate-

rials for printing.

Thus, we consider it expedient to reveal in detail

the implementation of each of the stages using the ex-

ample of creating a 3D model of the Parochial Cathe-

dral and substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed

method.

3.2 The Sequence and Content of the

Analytical Stage of the Proposed

Technique

3D modelling is a separate type of computer graphics,

which incorporates necessary tools and techniques

applied to building a model of an object in the 3D

space. 3D modelling techniques of a graphic object

include the following main cycles: the analytical cy-

cle (collection of input materials; calculation of object

sizes and parameters) and the modelling one (build-

ing a draft of an object form; accumulation, carving,

stamping, etc.).

Nowadays, 3D modelling is used in almost all

ﬁelds of human activity including advertising, mar-

keting, industry, computer games, cinema, architec-

ture, design and animation. 3D models of buildings

and facilities are an integral part of modern design

providing the basis for making object prototypes with

maximum granularity.

Stages of building 3D models of monuments and

landscapes are speciﬁc in their character depending

on set tasks and software chosen. However, the most

essential components of the methods are general for

different modelling objects. While setting a task for

modelling, it is necessary to determine the rate of

granularity and realism of the end product (Krejdun,

2014). Realism of a model depends on selected ma-

terials for overlaying textures onto an object. Virtual

3D modelling for architectural buildings is based on

solving the task of the efﬁcient layout widespread in

the theory of pattern recognition.

Nowadays, there are many software means of var-

ious parameters and applications in computer graph-

ics. Choice of software primarily depends on the task

set. After selecting functions and means required for

solving the task, it is necessary to choose efﬁcient

software to build 3D models.

Architects and designers make good use of 3D

graphics technologies because they are efﬁcient and

easy to use for project implementation. To select

the required software environment, a survey was con-

ducted among experts in this ﬁeld and students who

study the basics of 3D modelling. Based on the sur-

vey, the following software products are identiﬁed as

the most popular: Blender, 3D Max, SweetHome 3D,

SketchUpMake, Pro 100, FloorPlan 3D, ARCON 3D

Architect, ArchiCAD, Maya, LUMION, Cinema 4d.

It should be noted that the most appropriate is the use

of environments SweetHome 3D, 3DS Max, Floor-

Plan 3D, ARCON 3D Architect, ArchiCAD in the ar-

chitectural direction (Osadcha and Chemerys, 2017).

As our task is to build a model of an object, we

should analyse the above-mentioned programmes to

choose appropriate software. Parameters of evalua-

tion quality are chosen according to ISO 9126:2001

Standard in which each characteristic is described

by its several attributes (Danylenko, 2005). In this

case, they include functionality, user-friendliness, ef-

ﬁciency, the programme interface and render quality

(the ﬁnal image after processing) as the most impor-

tant parameter. As these criteria are not equivalent,

importance factors are determined for each of them

relevant to the set task (table 1).

Evaluation is performed in the system from 1 to

10 points for each parameter on the basis of working

with similar programmes. So, evaluating the charac-

teristics of software that would be advisable to use for

graphic 3D reconstruction of architectural objects, we

obtained the following rating results: FloorPlan 3D –

AET 2020 - Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology

122

Table 1: Assessment parameters.

Parameter Importance factor

Functionality 3

User-friendliness 2

Efﬁciency 2.5

Program interface 1.5

Render quality 4

44 points, ARCON 3D Architect – 50, SweetHome

3D – 80, ArchiCAD – 97, 3ds Max – 135 points.

Thus, according to the rating, it was determined

that the most convenient and effective for graphic 3D

reconstruction are 3ds Max and ArchiCAD, the work

in which is convenient and efﬁcient. However, the ﬁ-

nal result of the model of the ﬁnal renders in the 3DS

Max system is much better. Therefore, to create the

model of the Cathedral, the 3DS Max environment

was chosen, which has all the necessary tools for ren-

dering high realistic quality.

Graphic reconstruction of lost or destroyed archi-

tectural objects is a speciﬁc type of activity aimed

at studying these objects in order to restore their

appearance as of the time of their existence by

3D graphics means being guided by the preserved

documents, drafts or photographs (Borodkin, 2015;

Rozhko, 2013).

Graphic reconstruction provides for absence of

precise data on an object from a single data source.

It is applied to restoring a lost appearance by means

of graphic and document data through collecting and

combining it from various sources. Graphic recon-

struction being an activity is thought of as a set of op-

erations including data collection, object investigation

and ﬁxation prior to modelling options of a destroyed

architectural monument.

The Parochial Cathedral of St. Mary of the Perpet-

ual Assistance of the 1950s (hereafter – the Parochial

Cathedral) is one of the lost historical objects of

Ternopil that decorated the city centre at the corner of

Ruska and Mitskevich Streets (modern Shevchenko

Boulevard). Photographs and drafts are basic data

sources concerning the Cathedral.

The historical and architectural key plan of

Ternopil indicates that “the majestic and delicate

building in the neo-Gothic style was striking in its

beauty and perfection. The slim tower-spire of 62m

high was hovering over the city as if striving upward

into the sky. It was even used as a ﬁre tower built

upon the project of the famous Lviv architect Profes-

sor Theodor Marian Tal‘ovskyi” (here and after the

translation is ours) (Rymar, 2012).

Boitsun says that “in 1954, there were some ex-

plosions heard during several days when the Catholic

Church was blasted. In 1959, a supermarket was

opened there to celebrate the anniversary of the Oc-

tober Revolution. Many elements of the Church orna-

mentation were taken to Poland. Part of high reliefs of

the sacred procession and the sculpture of Madonna

were preserved in the Medium Church (the Church of

the Nativity of Christ)” (Boitsun, 2003). That is why,

we consider it of great importance to restore this ar-

chitectural monument to preserve Ternopil’s cultural

heritage.

3.3 Methodology of the Design

Engineering Stage

The creation of a 3D model of an object from its two-

dimensional projections (photographs), that is, its 3D

reconstruction, is carried out according to the follow-

ing basic techniques: using design using 3D scanners,

by obtaining a sequential series of images of an ob-

ject from all sides, using a stereopair (Andrianova and

Danilova, 2020).

It is a priori impossible to use the 3D scanning

technique for the graphic reconstruction of the lost

historical architectural objects. Therefore, we con-

sider it inappropriate to consider this technique.

Graphic reconstruction by design involves the cre-

ation of a digital model using specialized software

products. When creating a model, you can use ready-

made drawings or develop a new one. Thus, it is

possible to reproduce various objects that already ex-

ist in the real world, create those that have not yet

been built, or carry out a graphic reconstruction of

those that have been destroyed. This reconstruc-

tion method provides for modelling in various ways:

based on primitives, sections, Boolean operations, ar-

bitrary surfaces constructed using various mathemat-

ical models.

This method has a number of advantages, one of

which is the construction accuracy. However, for the

reconstruction of lost historical architectural objects,

this method requires additional information, because,

as a rule, in such cases, there are not enough drawings,

plans of the area and the building. Therefore, it is

advisable to combine it with the method of graphic

reconstruction based on a set of images of an object

from different sides.

The method of graphical reconstruction of an ob-

ject from a set of images uses a sequential series of its

images. In this case, the required percentage of over-

lap of two adjacent frames should be more than half,

and the minimum 0 – the number of frames, overlap

is equal to three.

The algorithm for implementing the work of this

method consists of the following stages:

1) analysis of photographs of the object under study;

The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural Objects for Future IT Specialists

123

2) search for singular points and solution of a system

of equations obtained on the basis of a set of data

points;

3) search for “identical” points on different sets of

adjacent images of an object;

4) calculating the coordinates of points from the

“base” image of the object;

5) mapping of points in the coordinate system most

convenient for object analysis and structure impo-

sition.

The disadvantage of this method is the need for a

large number of photographs for analysis in order to

obtain high-quality results of graphic reconstruction.

In order to solve the problem of insufﬁcient

graphic information based on image analysis, we pro-

pose to use the method of graphic reconstruction us-

ing a stereopair. The method is based on obtaining

and processing a set of pairs of images. In this case,

the selection of points of correspondence, their com-

parison and geometric transformations are carried out.

Obtaining a pair or series of images in which parallax

is observed is the main task of this method. Here, to

build a 3D model, you need to perform an algorithm

of actions: determining the fundamental matrix, ﬁnd-

ing the corresponding points, building a point cloud,

texturing. However, the model built using this method

cannot be considered a full-ﬂedged method of graphic

reconstruction, since in this case only a surface view

of the object is built.

Based on the analysis, we have proposed a com-

prehensive methodology for the graphic reconstruc-

tion of historical architectural objects for the imple-

mentation of the design stage. This technique con-

sists in constructing a 3D model of an object, based

on modern 3D design technologies, using methods for

analysing archival descriptive information and data on

a set of images and processing technology for a stere-

opair data array.

So, according to our proposed methodology for

constructing a 3D model for the graphic reconstruc-

tion of a historical building, it is carried out on the

basis of the cyclical execution of the following stages

(Hevko et al., 2020a):

1. Search for information to create an accurate

model from a set of images.

2. Creation of a model in the 3DS Max software en-

vironment.

3. Selection of the correct dimensions and construc-

tion of small parts diagrams based on the analysis

of parallax image evaluation.

Thus, the programmed reconstruction process

provided for the restoration of the building according

to the data indicated in the sources (description, pho-

tographs, drawings), as well as on the basis of cer-

tain parameters according to the comparison of de-

scriptions and data on the construction technologies

of cathedrals of that time. The construction of a 3D

model is based on a stereopair layout of the image of

the destroyed Parochial Cathedral.

To restore the spatial conﬁguration of objects, a

parallax estimation of images was carried out. The

principle of this assessment is that after processing a

pair of stereo images, for each element of the left im-

age, the corresponding element is found on the right

image. The difference in the horizontal coordinates

of the corresponding points (parallax) qualitatively

reﬂects the distance to the image point (Riabokon,

2002).

Collection of data involves searching for carto-

graphic materials as well as images and texts to fa-

cilitate accomplishment of the set task. Digital data

are preferable followed by vector and raster images.

While searching for information, we use a photograph

of the Parochial Cathedral with sharp images of ele-

ments of the architectural object to create its precise

model (ﬁgure 2).

In applying 3D modelling methods, special atten-

tion is paid to geometrical modelling considering the

type of the modelled object (engineering, design, ar-

chitectural, etc.) and the technology applied (Lytvyn,

2015).

Guided by detailed analysis of over 20 pho-

tographs of the Cathedral and its layout, we build a

3D model of the object. Thus, the above-described

procedures result in a primary platform of the model.

The next actions are aimed at editing forms of the

basis according to the photographs available. After

completing detailed analysis of sizes and architectural

features, we make amendments by means of relevant

3DS Max tools (Smith, 2006). After that, the build-

ing acquires a more realistic appearance. The com-

plex character of building the model involves numer-

ous ﬁne details, their asymmetry and location in dif-

ferent planes.

Next, we perform detailed processing of walls and

domes. To reduce labour-consuming procedures of

model building, repeated details like windows can be

copied and dragged to the required location. If you

need to resize the element, its plane or angle, then it

is possible to do it using the functions of the software

environment.

AET 2020 - Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology

124

Figure 2: Analysis of the spatial conﬁguration and details of the cathedral of the Parochial Cathedral of St. Mary.

3.4 Implementation of the Design Stage

of the Proposed Methodology

For the sake of convenience, we apply appropriate

functions to revolving and moving the model. Thus,

after completing a series of actions and operations,

we obtain a 3D model of the Parochial Cathedral. To

make the image of the model more realistic, we per-

form its rendering.

Rendering is responsible for applying various spe-

cial effects, detailing and ﬁne-tuning components. A

texture map is also being prepared. First of all, mate-

rials are assigned, after which parameters are set, such

as roughness, reﬂection, transparency, etc. Also, light

sources and cameras are set. So, at this stage, the 3D

visualization settings are clariﬁed and adjusted.

The primary and the resulting 3D models of the

cathedral after the stage of analyzing the dimensions

and features of the architecture are shown in ﬁgure 3.

Before making a printed miniature of the 3D

model, we should analyse and adjust it properly. As

the target result of modelling is a printed miniature,

the built model should be exported into the STL-

format. It should be noted that due to the intensive de-

velopment of 3D printing, most specialized programs

support this feature. This type supports 3D objects by

preserving them as a bulk of triangular data describ-

ing a surface.

3.5 The Sequence and Content of the

3D Printing Stage

The ﬁrst stage of preparing the model for printing

provides for analysis of 3D model geometry, which

involves its testing for available open spaces in the

polygonal net, some displacements of polygons and

defects in geometry.

The next stage includes analysis of all parameters,

sizes and their test for conformity with printing ma-

terials. As the built 3D model has sizes of a real-

life building, it requires scaling to create its printable

miniature (ﬁgure 4).

Nowadays, there is a great variety of software for

3D printing, among which one should mention Cura,

CraftWare, Slic3r, 3DTin and Repetier-Host. These

software products are quite widespread due to their

advanced features and relative complexity.

Yet, being guided by convenience and a relatively

user-friendly interface, we apply Cura in which ex-

cept for standard editing tools, printing quality adjust-

ment and material parameters, there are functions of

calculating weight of the end item, its print time, etc

(Mitin, 2018).

Basic settings of technological parameters in-

clude printing quality, ﬁlling, printing speed and tem-

perature, parameters of printing support and plas-

tic threads. While setting the parameters of print-

ing quality, the most essential one is the layer height

The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural Objects for Future IT Specialists

125

Figure 3: The primary and the resulting 3D models of the Parochial Cathedral.

(mm) determined by the nozzle diameter and it should

not exceed its half.

Shell thickness (mm) determines thickness of

printing walls of thin-wall objects or objects with the

reduced in-ﬁll ratio. Shell thickness is determined by

corresponding geometrical parameters of an object.

For small models, the thickness of 10–30 mm is opti-

mal.

Economic factors of plastic consumption are de-

termined by ﬁll density (%). In most cases, the in-ﬁll

ratio makes 10%, yet, for inﬂexible models and con-

sidering structural features of a model, the in-ﬁll ratio

can reach 100%. However, printing time increases

greatly.

Settings of print speed and temperatures enhance

qualitative and technological parameters of printing.

The most signiﬁcant parameter is print speed that de-

termines nozzle movements. As our model has many

ﬁne details, the set speed is 30 mm/sec to make print-

ing accurate. It is caused by the fact that high print

speed affects its quality because of vibration efforts

on the supporting frame of a printer and accelerated

wear of drive elements.

The technology also provides for printing auxil-

iary model elements (not speciﬁed in geometry) con-

sidering lack of possibility to form plastic mass in

the air. This support is possible for both individual

model elements (support type) and its platform (plat-

form adhesion type). In this case, we select the func-

tion Brim to provide high-quality print of model el-

ements, which are hanging (the roof, domes). The

programme creates additional supports for these ele-

ments.

After setting the required parameters to make a

miniature, the ﬁle is sent to the printer with automat-

ically formed G-code and approximate print time and

the amount of the required material are determined.

Figure 5 presents a printed model of the Parochial

Cathedral based on the suggested 3D modelling tech-

nology, the advantages of which are availability and

low costs of produced models.

The methodology for creating the 3D model and

printing the layout of the Parish Cathedral has been

carried out by specialists of the Innovative Center for

3D Technologies of Design and Production, which

operates on the basis of the Chair of Computer Tech-

nologies of the Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatyuk National

Pedagogical University.

Some speciﬁc features of the developed model in-

dicate possible further application of the methods to

reconstruction activity in order to preserve the city

and the state cultural heritage.

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126

Figure 4: Adjusting the model sizes to printing.

4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE

PROPOSED METHOD

Our research on improving the methodology for

teaching of constructing 3D models of historic archi-

tectural objects was based on the proposed algorithm

for performing architectural and spatial shaping in the

process of reproducing an historic object.

In the process of teaching future IT specialists to

3D technologies, we focused on the use of a com-

prehensive methodology for studying the graphic re-

construction of historical architectural objects. This

methodology consists in the formation of skills in

constructing a 3D model of an object based on de-

sign technologies according to image analysis using

parallax evaluation of the data array of stereopairs of

images of the objects under study.

The proposed technique forms in students’ certain

preliminary skills for the implementation of graphic

reconstruction, which are important for their future

professional activities. To substantiate the effective-

ness of the proposed technique, an experimental study

was carried out. In the course of the study, method-

ological support was developed for conducting a cycle

of laboratory studies.

Carrying out such a study helped to ﬁnd out the

effectiveness of the proposed methodology, to create

conditions for the introduction of positive achieve-

ments into the educational process.

A pedagogical experiment to test the effectiveness

of the methodology for the formation of graphical

reconstruction skills in future IT specialists covered

27 students of the specialty “Professional Education

(Computer Technologies)”. The distribution of stu-

dents for the experiment was carried out as follows:

the EG (14 students) – the experimental group, and

the CG (13 students) – the control group. The re-

search consisted in the introduction of the proposed

methodology into the educational process of the EG,

while the CG studied according to the traditional

method.

All participants in the experiment were familiar

with the purpose of the experiment and provided per-

sonal consent to participate. To test the effectiveness

of the methodology, diagnostic tools were developed

in the form of indicators, which were used to track a

positive result in the formation of the skills of future

IT specialists to carry out graphical reconstruction.

These indicators were: 1) knowledge about the

technique of graphic reconstruction and the necessary

tools; 2) knowledge of methods of geometric spatial

design; 3) the ability to use software tools for build-

ing 3D models; 4) the ability to use image analysis

technologies based on stereo pairs and parallax as-

sessment; 5) knowledge of 3D printing technology.

These indicators made it possible to characterize

four levels of skills of future IT specialists to carry

out graphical reconstruction:

1) low (characterized by low motivation to use

The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural Objects for Future IT Specialists

127

Figure 5: The printed miniature of the Parochial Cathedral of St. Mary of the Perpetual Assistance.

graphic reconstruction technologies in profes-

sional activity and creative self-realization; lack

of geometric design skills; elementary theoretical

and technological training in the use of special-

ized software for solving problems of graphic re-

construction and 3D printing; fragmented ability

to analyse graphic information);

2) medium (characterized by a limited interest in

graphic reconstruction technologies and in the use

of computer visualization tools, partial skills to

analyse graphic information and a situational de-

sire to introduce software tools for the design of

spatial objects in professional activities and the

need for additional motivation, mediocre theoret-

ical and technological training in the use of 3D

print);

3) sufﬁcient (characterized by signiﬁcant motivation

for the use of graphic reconstruction technologies,

spatial modelling tools in professional activities,

thorough training in the use of specialized soft-

ware for solving typical tasks of graphic recon-

struction and 3D printing, understanding of the

process of analysing graphic information using ar-

rays of digital data, readiness to reproduce typical

models of graphic reconstruction);

4) high (characterized by a conscious and reasoned

motivation for the use of graphic reconstruc-

tion technologies, means of spatial modelling

in professional activities and for creative self-

realization, thorough training in the use of spe-

cialized software for solving creative problems of

graphic reconstruction and 3D printing, the ability

to evaluate graphic information and analyse arrays

digital data corresponding to a graphical represen-

tation of a spatial object, formed by a sense of

willingness to create their own models of graphi-

cal reconstruction).

Methods for determining achievements for the se-

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128

lected indicators were as follows.

1. Knowledge about the technique of graphic recon-

struction and the necessary tools were tested with

an appropriate set of test tasks.

2. Knowledge of methods of geometric spatial de-

sign was veriﬁed by tests.

3. The ability to use software tools for building 3D

models was tested by executing the project.

4. Ability to use image analysis technologies based

on stereo pairs and parallax assessments were

tested by an individual task.

5. Knowledge of 3D printing technology was tested

with an individual assignment.

During the experimental study, there were signiﬁ-

cant changes in the relationships between the knowl-

edge levels of students in the control and experimental

groups, which are reﬂected in table 2.

Analysis of the results of the experimental study

showed that the quality of knowledge in the experi-

mental group increased by 23.1%, and in the control

group only by 14.3%, the average score increased ac-

cordingly: ∆µ (EG) = 6.9; ∆µ (CG) = 1.4. The dynam-

ics of changes in the quality of knowledge of students

from the EG and CG is presented in ﬁgure 6.

Figure 6: Dynamics of the quality of knowledge.

Consequently, conducting an experimental study

using the proposed methodology proved its effective-

ness in the educational process of future IT special-

ists. Thanks to the atypical approach to learning, a

relaxed atmosphere is created, which contributes to a

better assimilation of the material.

5 CONCLUSIONS AND

PROSPECTS FOR FURTHER

RESEARCH

Graphic reconstruction of historical architectural ob-

jects is possible due to new technologies of 3D graph-

ics, modelling and design in specialized computer en-

vironments. The developed method 3D technologies

of graphic reconstruction are exempliﬁed by the mod-

elling of the Parochial Cathedral of St. Mary of the

Perpetual Assistance of the 1950s.

The proposed method of training of graphic 3D

reconstruction is based on the principles: systematicy

and consistency, accessibility, clarity, connection be-

tween theory and practice, combination of individual

and collective. The stages of the proposed method-

ology (analysis, construction, design, model printing)

are based on a general methodology, taking into ac-

count individual speciﬁcs, depending on the tasks to

be solved, the selected software, the required degree

of detail and realism.

Determination of the spatial conﬁguration of ob-

jects provides for the restoration of the building ac-

cording to the data indicated in the archival sources,

as well as on the basis of the determined parameters

according to the comparison of descriptions and data

on the construction technologies of cathedrals of that

epoch.

The complex method for the graphic reconstruc-

tion of historical architectural objects is proposed.

This method consists in constructing a 3D model of an

object, based on a combination of design techniques

using modern 3D technologies, based on methods for

analysing archival descriptive information and data

from a set of images using a parallax evaluation of a

stereopair data array of images of a destroyed Cathe-

dral.

3ds Max is selected to build a 3D model of the

object to enhance high accuracy, speed and granular-

ity of ﬁxing complex sets providing efﬁcient tools of

working with bulk data that incorporate new achieve-

ments of informational technologies.

Detailed analysis of images and determined sizes

provides the basis for the 3ds Max model, which is

then edited by relevant tools to make it more realistic.

The complex character of building the model implies

its numerous ﬁne details, their asymmetry and loca-

tion in different planes.

Creating a printed model of a 3D model requires

its analysis and adaptation to 3D printing based on

testing the model for the presence of open spaces

in the polygonal mesh, defects in the geometry and

checking for compliance with the print materials. To

build a printed model of the Cathedral, guided by cri-

teria of convenience and the user-friendly interface,

the Cura software environment is applied.

The presented teaching methodology provides for

the formation of a system of theoretical and practical

knowledge of students in the process of model build-

ings design and structures using modern digital tech-

nologies of graphic 3D reconstruction.

To substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed

The Method of Teaching Graphic 3D Reconstruction of Architectural Objects for Future IT Specialists

129

Table 2: Dynamics of the level of knowledge of students.

Knowledge level

high sufﬁcient medium low

Group

Experiment stage

Total number of students

Grade Point Average, µ

number of students

78.7 4 28.6 5 35.7 4 28.6 1 7.1

II 80.1 5 35.7 6 42.9 3 21.4 1 7.1

75.3 3 23.1 5 38.5 3 23.1 2 15.3

II 82.2 5 38.5 6 46.2 2 15.3 0 0

technique, an experimental study was carried out, dur-

ing which the developed methodological support was

tested. An analysis of the results of the experimental

study showed that the implementation of the proposed

methodology contributes to the high-quality training

of future IT specialists. Carrying out such research

helped to create conditions for introducing positive

achievements into the educational process.

Prospects for further research are deﬁned in two

directions:

1) methodical: development of the training course

“Graphic reconstruction of architectural objects”

and its introduction into the educational process

of the specialty “Professional education (Digital

technologies)”;

2) technological: reconstruction of the Cathedral in-

terior that would enable creation of an object of

the virtual historical museum of the architectural

monument. Yet, this problem requires auxiliary

data on the Parochial Cathedral of St. Mary of

the Perpetual Assistance and remains unsolved to

date.

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