Histoury Launches XR App to Digitally Rebuild Pompeii in Real-Time
The Portyl application uses LiDAR scans and AI to overlay a living 3D reconstruction of the ancient city onto its current ruins.
Visitors to the ruins of Pompeii can now see the city as it existed before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Todd Porter, founder of the software company Histoury, has released an Immersive Extended Reality (XR) application called Portyl that transforms the archaeological site into a living urban center.
Using smartphones or tablets, users view historically accurate 3D models overlaid directly onto the current ruins. The experience allows visitors to walk through the city's former glory, including the forum and populated theaters. The reconstruction is powered by 155 high-resolution LiDAR scans with an accuracy range of less than 2 centimeters. To ensure the digital models align perfectly with the physical world, the app employs AI to match smartphone images with known location data, determining a user's orientation and position within six inches of accuracy.
A Decade of Development
The project was not an overnight achievement; Porter conceived the idea 15 years ago. However, the vision remained on hold until modern smartphone processing power became sufficient to handle the complex software requirements. Bringing the project to fruition required deep collaboration with archaeologists to maintain historical integrity, as well as official consent from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii to implement the technology on-site.
Redefining Heritage Tourism
This shift in technology moves archaeological tourism away from the passive observation of ruins toward an active experience of a functioning city. By making ancient history more emotionally resonant and accessible, the project provides a blueprint for how digital heritage preservation can be scaled. Porter described the result as one of the most "magical" experiences of his life, noting that the emotional impact is what resonates most with users.
Future Expansions
Histoury views the Pompeii project as a starting point for a broader digital archive of human history. The company intends to apply this XR model to other significant historical sites, with plans to expand the technology to Herculaneum and various locations across Egypt. As mobile hardware continues to evolve, the ability to overlay lost civilizations onto their current footprints is expected to become a standard tool for global heritage sites.