Integrating Modern Technology in Heritage

Preservation

Moussa NACIRI Ayoub FERAH Mouad HICHAM

1. Introduction

1.1 Defining Heritage and Its Significance

First of all, let’s have a look at the meaning of the words. “Heritage” is a
property, something that is inherited, passed down from previous
generations. In the case of “cultural heritage,” the heritage doesn’t
consist of money or property, but of culture, values, and traditions.
Cultural heritage implies a shared bond, our belonging to a community. It
represents our history and our identity; our bond to the past, to our
present, and the future.

Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, c. 1503–05, oil on panel

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/arches-at-risk-cultural-heritage-
education-series/arches-beginners-guide/a/what-is-cultural-heritage

1.2 The Impact of Modern Technology on Preservation Efforts

Technological progress has revolutionized the preservation of cultural

heritage, providing new tools and methods to record, restore, and share
cultural resources. Technologies such as 3D scanning, virtual reality, and
digital preservation are now at the forefront of preserving cultural
heritage, enhancing access, and engaging more people. Apart from
physical conservation of monuments and artifacts, these technologies
play a crucial role in education and cultural dissemination.
For instance, organizations like CyArk employ 3D laser scanning and
digital modeling to create detailed records of heritage sites that enable
virtual tours and assist restoration efforts. This type of digital
documentation ensures that even if physical structures are destroyed or
lost, their meaning and information can be preserved and studied.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CyArk)

2. Technologies Used in Heritage Preservation

2.1 Digital Archiving: Methods for Digitizing Artifacts and Documents
Digital archiving technologies are just one of the many tools and methods
to have transformed the way cultural heritage is preserved and accessed
today. Some of the important technologies available are:
Digitization Equipment: High-resolution scanners and digital cameras, such
as DSLRs and mirrorless, are used in photographing manuscripts,
artefacts, and artworks onto the digital plane in high detail so that the
accuracy of the physical items is reproduced.

Mirrorless camera
Audio and Video Recorders: Portable audio recorders and digital video
recorders play a very important role in recording oral history, cultural
practices, and rituals. They produce high-quality audio and video output;
hence, they help preserve intangible culture very well.
Digital Storage Systems: Safe, highly scalable storage devices, like external
hard drives, solid-state drives, network-attached storage, and cloud
storage, are imperative in keeping files for the long term. Such systems
provide redundancy, remote access, and automated backups for the
protection of any digital assets.
Digital Repositories and Metadata Standards: Institutional repositories and
digital libraries, such as DSpace and Omeka, organize digital content that
is stored along with metadata standards like Dublin Core and MARC. In
this way, systems of this nature enhance retrievability and usability for
digital files.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence: AI-powered tools automate
metadata creation, cultural data pattern identification, and transcription
of ancient texts. These technologies reduce manual effort to the least in
a digital archiving procedure and maximize the accuracy thereof.
Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR): Immersive technologies of VR and
AR offer innovative ways of experiencing and interacting with cultural
heritage through virtual environments, thus improving understanding and
appreciation. (https://rjpn.org/ijcspub/papers/IJCSP24C1086.pdf).
2.2 3D Scanning and Printing: Techniques for Reconstructing Damaged
Artifacts and Sites
Both in 3D printing and 3D scanning processes, a vast number of
different types of equipment are available. The variety of 3D printing and
3D scanning equipment available on the market has expanded the range
of applications and benefits these technologies can provide. Different
types of 3D printers vary in terms of printing material, printing accuracy,
printing speed, and cost, which makes them suitable for a wide range of
projects and industries. For example, high-end 3D printers can produce
intricate, detailed objects using advanced materials, while more
economical options are better suited for large-scale production runs or
simple projects.
In the same way, the diversity of 3D scanning equipment allows for
different levels of precision, accuracy, and speed, making them suitable
for a range of scanning applications. For instance, portable and
lightweight scanning devices are ideal for capturing smaller objects, while
stationary and more sophisticated equipment are better suited for
capturing large-scale structures and complex geometries. The different
options available make it possible to select the right equipment for a
specific task, enabling the best results possible. Figure 1 depicts a
diagram of the combination of 3D scanning and 3D printing processes
that leads to the final fabricated item, while Figure 2 depicts the use of
portable 3D Scanner in scanning a glass artifact in the Laboratory of Non-
Destructive Techniques, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece.
In this context, the vast number of different types of 3D printing and
3D scanning equipment available provides a great deal of versatility and
flexibility, allowing for the deployment of these technologies in a wide
range of applications and scenarios.
Regarding 3D scanners, structured light 3D scanners operate by
projecting a pattern of light onto the object or environment being
scanned. The 3D scanner then captures images of the object or
environment as the light is distorted by the shape of the object or
environment. These data are then used to create a highly detailed digital
model. Structured light scanners are typically less expensive than other
types of 3D scanners and are well-suited for scanning small objects or
parts.
 Figure 1. Combination of 3D scanning and 3D printing processes that leads to the final fabricated
item.

Figure 2. Portable 3D Scanner scanning a glass artifact.

2.3 Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Applications for
Education and Tourism
The difference between augmented reality and virtual reality is that the
first digital information is added to images and real-life contexts [2], while
the second offers the user a new world in which he is immersed allowing,
for example, to fly over a city without taking his feet off the ground.
(https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236412918.pdf)

The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

technologies into cultural heritage preservation has revolutionized the
ways in which historical sites and artifacts are experienced, studied, and
taught. These immersive technologies bridge the gap between the past
and present, offering dynamic platforms for education and tourism that
enhance engagement and accessibility.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction:
AR provides a method that enables experiencing a 3D reconstruction of a
cultural heritage artifact with a high level of detail and with a full-scale
dimension of the space perception, without requiring the user to have
specialized knowledge. Three-dimensional models in combination with
AR enable the general public to better understand and experience history
through more intuitive and interactive means. Furthermore, the 3D
reconstruction of cultural heritage artifacts can be used for 3D
replications that involve combining digital touch screens, AR applications,
and high-quality 3D printing. The subjects that evaluated 3D AR
considered the use of reproductions or physical 3D prints intuitive,
mainly for contextual understanding and intangible experiences.

An example of mobile AR application for exploration of the 3D reconstructed Prejmer Fortified Church, a
UNESCO monument from Transylvania, Romania, courtesy of Voinea et al.

Virtual Museums:
Museums that want to go beyond their traditional experience of
providing information based on audio guides and paper catalogs are
starting to innovate at the level of the user experience, making it more
intuitive. At the same time, they are adopting innovative systems able to
deliver the content of their information while improving the visitor’s
experience.(https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/19/9859?utm_source)

Visualization and interaction with entire 3D scene (a) and a virtual artifact (b).

3. Case Studies
3.1 Museums Digitizing Collections
The case studies section focuses on detailed examples of museum
collection digitization and analyses of reconstructed archaeological sites
through 3D technology, and other examples drawn from recent academic
articles and papers.
Museums Digitizing Collections:
The Smithsonian Institution has digitized 4.9 of the 19 million objects
to be digitized using mass digitization and 3D technologies and has made
them accessible through portals like Collections Search Center
(https://collections.si.edu/search/) and Learning Lab (https://learninglab.si.edu/)
(Smithsonian Institution, 2018). This makes it easier for global research
and public outreach.
Another example is the British Museum, partnering with Google
Cultural Institute to digitize millions of items, available online, breaking
through physical barriers (Museums + Heritage, 2016). The Tate Gallery
also employs a comprehensive media strategy, using social media like
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to promote exhibitions, increasing
geographical accessibility.

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and the Metropolitan

Museum of Art (MET) in New York have digitized hundreds to tens of
thousands of works, which are available online for public engagement
and scholarly use (Medium, 2018). These efforts illustrate how
digitization increases access and conserves the collections for future
research.
3.2 Archaeological Site Reconstructions Using 3D Technology
Advancements in 3D technology have enabled the virtual reconstruction
of archaeological sites, offering insights into historical contexts and aiding
in preservation efforts:

Ancient Rome’s Colosseum:

Methods like laser scanning (LiDAR), photogrammetry, and structure-
from-motion (SfM) have been utilized to generate comprehensive 3D
models of the Colosseum. The models are immersive, enabling users to
tour the structure as it would have looked in its heyday while conserving
it for study in the future.(https://www.blog.ryco.io/post/3d-modeling-in-archaeology-
reconstructing-the-past-with-modern-technology).

Roman Colosseum 3D mode

Egypt’s Temples:
The same 3D modeling techniques have also been employed to rebuild
Egyptian temples, including those in Luxor and Karnak. Virtual tours and
educational resources are offered by means of these computerized
reconstructions, thereby conveying valuable information about ancient
Egyptian civilization and architecture.

Temple of karnak 3d model