Digital Epigraphy Toolbox

FAIN: HD-51214-11

University of Florida (Gainesville, FL 32611-0001)
Angelos Barmpoutis (Project Director: October 2010 to August 2013)

The creation of a web-based application that will facilitate the preservation, study, and dissemination of ancient inscriptions.

Digital Epigraphy Toolbox is an open-source cross-platform web-application designed to facilitate the digital preservation, study, and electronic dissemination of ancient inscriptions. It allows epigraphists to digitize in 3D their epigraphic squeezes using our novel cost-effective technique, which overcomes the limitations of the current methods for digitizing epigraphic data in 2-dimensions only. The proposed toolbox contains several options for 3D visualization of inscriptions as well as a set of scientific tools for analyzing the lettering techniques and performing quantitative analysis of the letterform variations. The users will have the option to share their data or search for other uploaded collections of 3D inscriptions in a semi-supervised dynamic library. This library will be organized thematically according to language, area of origin, and date and will contain a comprehensive record of the inscription in the form of plain text, 3D model, and 2D photographs.

Media Coverage

Classics in the News (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Samuel J. Huskey
Publication: American Philological Association
Date: 5/1/2011
Abstract: The University of Florida College of Fine Arts and Digital Worlds Institute has been awarded $50,000 by the National Endowment for the Humanities Office of Digital Humanities.
URL: http://apaclassics.org/index.php/apa_blog/apa_blog_entry/2483/

Digital Worlds Institute receives grant for project with classics department (Media Coverage)
Author(s):
Publication: Inside UF
Date: 4/20/2011
Abstract: Digital Epigraphy Toolbox project, a collaborative research initiative between the Digital Worlds Institute and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences department of classics.
URL: http://news.ufl.edu/2011/04/20/digital-grant/

Digital Epigraphy Toolbox (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Chris Christodoulou
Publication: Ephilology
Date: 9/29/2012
Abstract: Digital Epigraphy Toolbox is a novel and technologically advanced scientific tool for the effective study and comparative analysis of Greek and Latin inscriptions. It provides archaeologists and epigraphists with a cost-effective and efficient method for 3D digitization of inscriptions based on squeezes, as well as access to an online dynamic library of 3D inscriptions.
URL: http://ephilology.blogspot.com/2012/09/digital-epigraphy-toolbox.html

Associated Products

Digital Epigraphy Toolbox (Computer Program)
Title: Digital Epigraphy Toolbox
Author: Angelos Barmpoutis
Author: Eleni Bozia
Author: Robert S. Wagman
Abstract: Digital Epigraphy Toolbox is a novel and technologically advanced scientific tool for the effective study and comparative analysis of Greek and Latin inscriptions. It provides archaeologists and epigraphists with a cost-effective and efficient method for 3D digitization of inscriptions based on squeezes, as well as access to an online dynamic library of 3D inscriptions.
Year: 2012
Primary URL: http://www.digitalepigraphy.org/toolbox
Primary URL Description: System requirements: The software runs on most major operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris. Java must be installed. Internet connection is required. Features: On-line database of 3D inscriptions, 3D rotation, change lighting orientation, zoom in/out, thematic browsing, keyword search, connection with other existing on-line libraries, dynamic and open editing of the epigraphic records by the research community, and many other features.
Access Model: Open Access
Programming Language/Platform: Client: Java Server: PhP, mySQL
Source Available?: Yes

Prizes

eHumanities award
Date: 12/19/2012
Organization: University of Leipzig
Abstract: The digital humanities project presentation titled: "The First On-Line 3D Epigraphic Library" by E. Bozia and A. Barmpoutis won the second place in the eHumanities award competition organized by the University of Leipzig and sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

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