Digital gypsotheque. Online features as inclusive educational tool

The paper deals with the first results of an ongoing research on the issues of digitization of CH for educational and museum purposes. The research starts from the study of the small plaster casts collection kept inside the Santa Croce complex at the University of Cagliari. The workflow aims to investigate the potential of advanced technologies by reconciling the needs strictly related to the two principles of measurement and visualization. The construction of an information system will facilitate not only the classification and management of the digital plaster collection but also communication for scientific and didatic purposes. Two different possible applications are considered: the first for the construction of a web platform for the remote interactive query of the database, the second for the virtual visit of the rooms that host some of the casts through the delivery platform for point & click games developed in the PAC-PAC research project

New Opportunities in Digital Archaeology: The Use of Low-Cost Photogrammetry for 3D Documentation of Archaeological Objects from Banks Island, NWT

This thesis investigates the use of low-cost three-dimensional (3D) modelling programs (Agisoft Photoscan and 123D Catch) to create and disseminate digital replicas of archaeological features and artifacts in the context of the Ikaahuk Archaeology Project, a community-based archaeology project on Banks Island, Northwest Territories. It aims to 1) assess the benefits and challenges of low-cost photogrammetry for in-situ documentation of hunter-gatherer archaeological features; 2) determine the usefulness of low-cost photogrammetry for replicating small-scale artifacts in comparison to 3D scanning methods; and 3) explore how Internet media can be used to disseminate 3D models. This thesis demonstrates that low-cost methods of 3D modelling are sufficiently able to replicate many types of archaeological objects, and are accessible due to their low cost, ease of use, and compatibility with online dissemination. As a result low-cost 3D modelling has a promising future in archaeological documentation, conservation, and engagement with non-specialist audiences

Estudio de los repositorios y plataformas de patrimonio digital en 3D

[EN] Despite the increasing number of three-dimensional (3D) model portals and online repositories catering for digital heritage scholars, students and interested members of the general public, there are very few recent academic publications that offer a critical analysis when reviewing the relative potential of these portals and online repositories. Solid reviews of the features and functions they offer are insufficient; there is also a lack of explanations as to how these assets and their related functionality can further the digital heritage (and virtual heritage) field, and help in the preservation, maintenance, and promotion of real-world 3D heritage sites and assets. What features do they offer? How could their feature list better cater for the needs of the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) sector? This article’s priority is to examine the useful features of 8 institutional and 11 commercial repositories designed specifically to host 3D digital models. The available features of their associated 3D viewers, where applicable, are also analysed, connecting recommendations for future-proofing with the need to address current gaps and weaknesses in the scholarly field of 3D digital heritage. Many projects do not address the requirements stipulated by charters, such as access, reusability, and preservation. The lack of preservation strategies and examples highlights the oxymoronic nature of virtual heritage (oxymoronic in the sense that the virtual heritage projects themselves are seldom preserved). To study these concerns, six criteria for gauging the usefulness of the 3D repositories to host 3D digital models and related digital assets are suggested. The authors also provide 13 features that would be useful additions for their 3D viewers.[ES] A pesar del creciente número de portales de modelos tridimensionales (3D) y repositorios en línea que atienden a los estudiosos del patrimonio digital, a los estudiantes y al público en general, hay muy pocas publicaciones académicas recientes que analizan de forma crítica el potencial relativo de esos portales y repositorios en línea. Tampoco hay suficientes revisiones críticas de las características y funciones que ofrecen, ni muchas explicaciones sobre la forma en que estos activos y su funcionalidad pueden impulsar en el campo del patrimonio digital (y el patrimonio virtual), y ayudar a preservar, mantener y promocionar los sitios y activos del patrimonio 3D del mundo real. ¿Qué características ofrecen? ¿Cómo podría su lista de características satisfacer mejor las necesidades del sector GLAM (galerías, bibliotecas, archivos y museos)? La prioridad de este artículo es examinar las características útiles de 8 depósitos institucionales y 11 comerciales diseñados específicamente para albergar modelos digitales en 3D. También son examinadas las características disponibles de su visores 3D asociados, cuando sea aplicable, y ello conecta con lo recomendado sobre las necesidades futuras y mejoradas para abordar las lagunas y debilidades en el campo académico del patrimonio digital 3D. Muchos proyectos no estudian los requisitos estipulados en las cartas, como son los factores de acceso, la reutilización y la preservación. La escasez de estrategias y ejemplos de preservación pone de relieve el carácter oximorónico del patrimonio virtual (oximorónico en el sentido de que los propios proyectos de patrimonio virtual se preservan con muy poca frecuencia). Para hacer frente a estas preocupaciones, se sugieren seis criterios para calibrar la utilidad de los repositorios 3D para albergar modelos digitales 3D y activos digitales relacionados. Los autores también proporcionan 13 características adicionales que serían útiles en los visores 3D.Champion, E.; Rahaman, H. (2020). Survey of 3D digital heritage repositories and platforms. Virtual Archaeology Review. 11(23):1-15. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2020.13226OJS1151123Aalbersberg, I. J., Cos Alvarez, P., Jomier, J., Marion, C., & Zudilova-Seinstra, E. (2014). Bringing 3D visualization into the online research article. Information Services & Use, 34(1-2), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.3233/ISU-140721Addison, A. C. (2000). Emerging trends in virtual heritage. IEEE Multimedia, 7(2), 22-25. https://doi.org/10.1109/93.848421Alliez, P., Bergerot, L., Bernard, J.-F., Boust, C., Bruseker, G., Carboni, N., Chayani, M., Dellepiane, M., Dell'unto, N., & Dutailly, B. (2017). 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Accurator: Nichesourcing for Cultural Heritage

With more and more cultural heritage data being published online, their usefulness in this open context depends on the quality and diversity of descriptive metadata for collection objects. In many cases, existing metadata is not adequate for a variety of retrieval and research tasks and more specific annotations are necessary. However, eliciting such annotations is a challenge since it often requires domain-specific knowledge. Where crowdsourcing can be successfully used for eliciting simple annotations, identifying people with the required expertise might prove troublesome for tasks requiring more complex or domain-specific knowledge. Nichesourcing addresses this problem, by tapping into the expert knowledge available in niche communities. This paper presents Accurator, a methodology for conducting nichesourcing campaigns for cultural heritage institutions, by addressing communities, organizing events and tailoring a web-based annotation tool to a domain of choice. The contribution of this paper is threefold: 1) a nichesourcing methodology, 2) an annotation tool for experts and 3) validation of the methodology and tool in three case studies. The three domains of the case studies are birds on art, bible prints and fashion images. We compare the quality and quantity of obtained annotations in the three case studies, showing that the nichesourcing methodology in combination with the image annotation tool can be used to collect high quality annotations in a variety of domains and annotation tasks. A user evaluation indicates the tool is suited and usable for domain specific annotation tasks