Archaeology of the third millennium will rely heavily on computer technology to enhance its ability to explore, interpret, classify and reconstruct the past in new, more penetrating and exciting ways. Drawing on technologies developed for military flight simulation and virtual reality, systems for efficiently modeling individual monuments, urban environments, and ancient landscapes have contributed significantly in archaeological projects around the world.

The potential of virtual reality technology points in many directions. As a research tool is provides a new and powerful way of storing, managing and retrieving a vast amount of visual information. In the field of conservation it allows for a level of reconstruction without touching the original fabric of the monument. In addition, Virtual Reality is changing the face of education at many levels, as it provides students of all ages the opportunity to visit and experience ancient environments. In terms of museum exhibition and presentation it makes instantly available all the results of an immense amount of research and presents it to the public in a compelling format that can be immediately experienced and quickly appreciated.

By focusing on the Virtual Reality model of the Forum of Trajan in Rome constructed at the School of Arts and Architecture at UCLA in collaboration with the J. Paul Getty Trust, the various uses and benefits of computer modeling are discussed.