More than hype – understanding heritage in 3D

Nick Poole, CEO, Collections Trust

February 2015

We’ve been here before…

Fig. 3. Masolino ‘St. Peter Healing a Cripple and the Raising of Tabitha’ (1425)

So why now…?

© www.smackagency.com/museums

Virtual reconstruction of Gawthorpe Hallhttp://www.heritagetechnology.co.uk/hist3d

Visualising hillfort sites using a digital elevation modelhttp://www.viamagna3d.eu.sk/digitalisation-of-hillforts/

Visualisation of Stonehenge World Heritage Site using LIDAR data from the Environment Agencyhttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/stonehenge/explore-stonehenge-landscape-lidar-survey

3D reconstruction & flythrough of a Metal Mine at Port Ceunant, part of a series by RCAHMWhttps://www.youtube.com/user/RCAHMWales

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‘3D’ technologies

Tactile applications

• The combination of 3D printing, tactile objects and technology is opening up new approaches to audience engagement, bridging the physical and virtual.

Haptics at Manchester Museum

• 3D scans of collections items

• Combined with AV and interpretive material

• Explored in-gallery using the ‘Probos’ haptic interface

• Supporting the needs of blind and visually-impaired users

The ‘Probos’ haptic interface from Touch and Discover Systemshttp://www.touch-and-discover-systems.co.uk/

Exploring the Ara Pacis

• 3D rendered model of the Ara Pacis in Rome

• 3D printed reconstruction of the building

• Using embedded circuitry to make the model interactive

• The gestures of the user on the model enable onscreen exploration

• A more natural interface

Exploring the Ara Pacis with touchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQbdn2NVlls/

Immersive experiences

• Gesture-based and motion-controlled interfaces enable audiences to interact with virtual environments in a more natural way, creating richer, more immersive experiences.

3D model and interactive film of the Sistine Chapelhttp://vatican.com/tour/sistine_chapel_3D/web

Virtual reconstruction of historical Parishttp://www.liveforfilms.com

Building the British Museum in Minecrafthttp://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/museumcraft.aspx

Creative applications

• The increasing simplicity and natural interactivity of 3D interfaces provides new tools for creativity and discovery.

Research & understanding

• Very high-resolution 3D models and scans provide a rich resource to support scientific research and improved understanding of heritage landscapes, sites and collections.

Access

• The tactile and reproducible nature of 3D printed objects makes them useful to extend accessibility for people with different needs and abilities.

Heritage Management

• 3D scanning and reproduction open up new approaches and methodologies for conservation and collections management.

High resolution scanning for conservation

• Well-established practice of very high-resolution white light scanning

• Helps to understand technique and materials

• Informs decisions about conservation treatments

• Helps with security, provenance etc

http://www.whiteboardmag.com/3d-scan-van-gogh-perfect-replica-formart/

3D location control

• Use of Collections Management Systems for location & movement

• Dynamically populates 3D model of galleries

• Provides up-to-date information for the public

• Avoids duplication of effort

• Eg. Zetcom’s ‘eMuseumPlus’ virtual tours module

Prototyping displays & interactives

Commercial opportunities

• 3D scanning and reproduction open up new commercial opportunities for heritage attractions, venues and sites.

Feathercast & Fitzwilliam@home

• Developing high-quality reproductions of key collections items

• Aligning retail offer to public/exhibition programming

• Rich 3D scans by Inition support a variety of activities

• Retail at £50 per item

• Estimated to breakeven (all costs) within 18 months

Feathercast & Fitzwilliam@home

Jersey Heritage Trust Pocket Museum

• Augmented Reality app featuring 3D models of items from the collections

• AR functionality triggered by the Jersey Heritage Trust Membership Card

• Providing added value for membership through 3D interactivity

• Extending the visitor experience

• Grown from 1000 to 10,000 members

Jersey Heritage Trust Pocket Museum

Jersey Heritage Trust Pocket Museum

Oxford Museum of Natural History

• Collaboration with commercial partner (Crawley Creatures)

• Developed a 3D-printed dinosaur puzzle

• Available for retail

• Used in educational tours and interactives

• Rapid prototyping

Oxford Museum of Natural History

Challenges

• Integrating 3D technologies and approaches into your existing strategy

• Choosing the right formats, platforms and interfaces for the job

• Digital preservation (and ensuring that content is updated and added to)

• Digital rights in 3D materials

• Documenting and managing 3D assets as part of the collection

• Avoiding ‘because it’s there’…

Users Funders Politicians

Organisational Mission

Collecting Policy

UseDevelopLearnCare

InformationProceduresSystemsPeople

Evaluation & improvement

Rich online and offline experiences for users

Conclusions

• We’re beyond ‘hype’ and into the everyday application of different 3D technologies and methods, depending on our aims

• As with any technology, the focus should always be the message and the audience, not the medium

• The financial and technical barriers to entry are coming down all the time

• 3D technologies provide an opportunity to enrich both our management of heritage collections & landscapes and the visitor experience

Keep in touch

• Collections Management LinkedIn community (8,200 members)

• Fortnightly email newsletter (sign up at www.collectionstrust.org.uk)

• www.twitter.com/collectiontrust

• www.facebook.com/collectionstrust

• www.slideshare.net/collectionstrust

• www.collectionstrust.org.uk/consultancy