A RIS3D is willing to tackle the problem of merging information from multiple domain around the natural representation in 3D of studied object. Such a gathering of multidisciplinary information is required in the domain of Cultural Heritage Sciences. For this purpose, the data managed by RIS3D encompasses an always wider range of formats, including textual annotations, numerical measurements, images, files, dates, two-dimensional series such as spectra or sensor outputs, data cubes like those generated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and voxel grids such as those produced by ground-penetrating radar.

Given the information system’s capacity to manage extensive datasets, it has to provide a user-friendly query system accessible through a nodal interface. Users are also able to populate the underlying database efficiently by uploading CSV files in bulk, rather than entering each record manually, and benefit from streamlined processes for inserting two-dimensional series.

We are working into making anchors that positions information in 3D as generic as possible. We have demonstrated the possibility of use in a same system concepts such as simple 3D points, 2D surfaces overlaid on 3D meshes, or individual mesh elements (particularly when the 3D model consists of multiple meshes, as is often the case in architectural applications). To ease the concomitant visualization of different information, we use markers that can be customized according to the data they represent (e.g., for instance, color may indicate a specific category, a brief text label may appear above each marker, and marker size may vary in proportion to a numerical value).

Our RIS3D implementation comprises a cloud-hosted server and a client application designed for personal computers. The server infrastructure integrates a PostgreSQL database with a NodeJS web server, while the client is developed in Unity and establishes a connection to the server to visualize and manipulate three-dimensional objects alongside their associated data. All data is stored in JSON format, allowing users to define and organize their content within the hierarchical structure permitted by JSON. This data can be edited and visualized in three-dimensional space, anchored to meshes or point clouds. On the server side, project administrators can create user accounts with tailored access permissions, establish user groups, and perform database import and export operations.

The proposed demonstration showcases several archaeological sites and artifacts, illustrating how complex datasets can be visualized in three dimensions and queried by users. This demonstration will highlight the system’s ability to handle large volumes of data simultaneously, present them as customizable markers, and facilitate the consolidation of diverse information for researchers and conservators, thereby enabling more effective analysis and interpretation. Being in used in multiple archaeological projects, the software remains under development to introduce the requirements that serve them. The source code is intended to be released as open-source in the future, with a comprehensive documentation and improved server-side security.