Saving Cultural Heritage with Digital Make-Believe: Machine Learning and Digital Techniques to the Rescue

The application of digital methods for content-based curation and dissemination of cultural heritage data offers unique advantages for physical sites at risk of damage. In areas affected by 2011 Arab spring, digital may be the only approach to create believable cultural experiences. We propose a framework incorporating computational methods such as: digital image processing, multi-lingual text analysis, and 3D modelling, to facilitate enhanced data archive, federated search, and analysis. Potential use cases include experiential search, damage assessment, virtual site reconstruction, and provision of augmented information for education and cultural preservation. This paper presents initial findings from an empirical evaluation of existing scene classification methods, applied to detection of cultural heritage sites in the Palmyra region. Results indicate that deep learning offers an appropriate solution to semantic annotation of publicly available cultural heritage image data

Knowledge-based Virtual Reconstruction of Museum Artifacts

Within the framework of heritage preservation, 3D scanning and modeling for heritage documentation has increased significantly in recent years, mainly due to the evolution of laser and image-based techniques, modeling software, powerful computers and virtual reality. 3D laser acquisition constitutes a real development opportunity for 3D modeling based previously on theoretical data. The representation of the object information rely on the knowledge of its historic and theoretical frame to reconstitute a posteriori its previous states. This project proposes an approach dealing with data extraction based on architectural knowledge and Laser statement informing measurements, the whole leading to 3D reconstruction. The experimented Khmer objects are exposed at Guimet museum in Paris. The purpose of this digital modeling meets the need of exploitable models for simulation projects, prototyping, exhibitions, promoting cultural tourism and particularly for archiving against any likely disaster and as an aided tool for the formulation of virtual museum concept

A study of image quality, authenticity, and metadata characteristics of photogrammetric three-dimensional data in cultural heritage domain

This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of digital image quality, authenticity, and metadata issues of photogrammetry as a three-dimensional (3D) digitization technique in the cultural heritage domain. Photogrammetric image data characteristics are introduced for information professionals by analyzing features leading to the high-quality, accurate and welldefined three-dimensional data. Qualitative methodology was employed based on an interpretivist approach. Both synchronous and asynchronous semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were carried out with seven professionals in the field of photogrammetry, using chat and email as data collection techniques. The findings of this study suggest that photogrammetry seems to be effective in reconstruction, preservation and visualization of cultural heritage objects because it can acquire the accurate 3D models in a cost effective way. It is shown that photogrammetry is an effective way to present a photo-realistic view for 3D architectures and artifacts. Moreover, metadata usage in the cultural heritage photogrammetric data is beginning to emerge. In photogrammetry process, image metadata can preserve the original data which is used in the process of camera calibration and consequently building the 3D model.Joint Master Degree in Digital Library Learning (DILL

3D Data Processing Toward Maintenance and Conservation. The Integrated Digital Documentation of Casa de Vidro

During the last decade, 3D integrated surveys and BIM modelling procedures have greatly improved the overall knowledge on some Brazilian Modernist buildings. In this framework, the Casa de Vidro 3D survey carried out by DIAPReM centre at Ferrara University, beside the important outputs, analysis and researches achieved from the point cloud database processing, was also useful to test several awareness increasing activities in cooperation with local stakeholders. The first digital documentation test of the Casa de Vidro allowed verifying the feasibility of a full survey on the building towards the restoration and possible placement of new architectures into the garden as an archive-museum of the Lina Bo and P.M. Bardi Foundation. Later, full 3D integrated survey and diagnostic analysis were carried out to achieve the total digital documentation of the house sponsored by the Keeping it Modern initiative of Getty Foundation (Los Angeles). Following its characteristics, the survey had to take into consideration the different architectural features, up to the relationship of architecture and nature. These 3D documentation activities and the point cloud processing allowed several analysis in a multidisciplinary framework

Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) System for Ancient Documentary Artefacts

This tutorial summarises our uses of reflectance transformation imaging in archaeological contexts. It introduces the UK AHRC funded project reflectance Transformation Imaging for Anciant Documentary Artefacts and demonstrates imaging methodologies

Robots for Exploration, Digital Preservation and Visualization of Archeological Sites

Monitoring and conservation of archaeological sites are important activities necessary to prevent damage or to perform restoration on cultural heritage. Standard techniques, like mapping and digitizing, are typically used to document the status of such sites. While these task are normally accomplished manually by humans, this is not possible when dealing with hard-to-access areas. For example, due to the possibility of structural collapses, underground tunnels like catacombs are considered highly unstable environments. Moreover, they are full of radioactive gas radon that limits the presence of people only for few minutes. The progress recently made in the artificial intelligence and robotics field opened new possibilities for mobile robots to be used in locations where humans are not allowed to enter. The ROVINA project aims at developing autonomous mobile robots to make faster, cheaper and safer the monitoring of archaeological sites. ROVINA will be evaluated on the catacombs of Priscilla (in Rome) and S. Gennaro (in Naples)

A semantic-based platform for the digital analysis of architectural heritage

This essay focuses on the fields of architectural documentation and digital representation. We present a research paper concerning the development of an information system at the scale of architecture, taking into account the relationships that can be established between the representation of buildings (shape, dimension, state of conservation, hypothetical restitution) and heterogeneous information about various fields (such as the technical, the documentary or still the historical one). The proposed approach aims to organize multiple representations (and associated information) around a semantic description model with the goal of defining a system for the multi-field analysis of buildings