3D Modeling and Cultural Heritage
During the last decades technology has been more involved with cultural heritage objects and sites. There has been a significant increase in the usage of modern techniques to record, conserve and recreate cultural heritage; as well as a broader digital approach to such elements. Certainly, as technology develops faster, the procedures and methodologies regarding cultural heritage must find their way to keep up with this development.
Thus, 3D modeling has become a useful tool when it comes to cultural materials and cultural heritage. This technique allows the possibility to make accurate representations of objects, surfaces and structures; replicating not only their morphology, but also their texture and color. Hence, these representations increase their utility for different disciplines, and are becoming valuable assets when thinking about cultural heritage.
Having this perspective in mind, then comes the question: What major contributions can 3D Modeling offer to cultural heritage? It is important to understand its contribution to cultural heritage in order to comprehend the magnitude and scope of these technologies when working, analyzing and preserving cultural assets.
There are six main elements that can be pinpointed while talking about major contributions that 3D modeling bring into cultural heritage objects and sites. All of which are correlated and integrated into disciplines that deal with cultural heritage. However, each of these elements provides specific resources and information about the object or site itself.
Restoration
Many if not all cultural assets are susceptible to deterioration or damage through time, usually caused by external factors such as environmental conditions, different light exposure, material degradation, continuous exposure to rain, wind and sun, inadequate storage, inappropriate management, human interaction, insects, etc. Therefore, in most of the cases, the object or structure needs to be restored by an expert. At this point, having a 3D model created beforehand can be a valuable resource in order to make an accurate and successful restoration.
This is why, organizations like UNESCO have created a list of “World Heritage Sites in Danger” in order to prioritize their conservation. UNESCO has stated that the cultural and artistic value of these sites has been compromised, and they are carrying out a process to create 3D models of all these sites in order to be restored if necessary (Campanaro et al., 2016).
Monitoring
In relation to the damage and deterioration that cultural sites and objects can suffer, it is necessary to think not only in restoration, but also in monitoring. Normally degradation does not occur on a specific moment, but instead it is a progressive process. This means that objects and structures get damaged or deteriorated at small stages through time; in most cases it is imperceptible to common view.
Now, accurate 3D models can help to determine changes or alterations in morphology and disposition of objects and structures, which provides the possibility of foreseeing and taking action on time when they are getting some kind of harm. For example, predicting models for different damage scenarios can be created utilizing this technology in order to prevent and control a specific situation (Campanaro et al., 2016). Whereby, this is one of the most useful applications of 3D Modeling while taking care of any cultural asset.
Research
For different disciplines and scholars, 3D models are very useful to perform a broad amount of analysis and research. With a 3D model it is possible to make several types of analysis: comparative analysis of morphology, changes on structure, measuring (Figure 2), distribution, architecture, textured, disposition. All of which are commonly used while working with cultural heritage.
For example, digital photogrammetry has been used as a non-invasive procedure to analyze, measure, archive and recreate artwork. This becomes particularly useful when working with fragile artwork, since it provides a technique to recreate and restore an object without having physical contact with it (Guidi et al., 2004).
Conservation
3D digitization techniques meet the needs of methodologies and procedures that deal with conservation and archiving of cultural heritage. Creating 3D models cultural materials and heritage sites is a reliable and accurate mean to conserve these assets for the future (Pieraccini et al., 2001).
Certainly technology advances in fast pace, and it is hard to keep up with its development. This is why establishing “best practices” while talking about cultural heritage conservation in terms of digital resources results difficult. However, integrating 3D digitization as part of conservation methods for archaeology and museums for example, can bring several benefits for the future.
Documentation
While working with cultural materials either in the field, the lab or the museum, documentation is the most important aspect of all. Documentation provides content to objects and places, meaning that it keeps record about the context, origin and background information associated with a specific artifact or site. This is, ultimately, the most relevant aspect of cultural heritage.
In terms of archaeology particularly, documentation is a fundamental component of its methodology. For example, Galeazzi (2016) exposes the usage of 3D Modeling while making survey on an archaeological site called Las Cuevas in Belize. Galeazzi pinpoints the importance of using modern and accessible techniques to enhance documentation in the field, as well as, creating 3D replicas of the materials and surfaces.
Therefore, 3D modeling and digitization techniques are becoming valuable tool for disciplines like archaeology, and for institutions that deal with cultural heritage, such as museums, universities and international organizations.
Representation
Finally, another vital aspect of cultural heritage is that it is a public asset. Therefore, it is important to provide access to cultural heritage sites and cultural heritage material to people. In this sense, 3D modeling offers a mean to share information by recreating the original object or site. The possibility of having digital models of all these cultural assets makes them more accessible for people, since the physical access to most of these objects and places is restricted or hard to reach.
3D digitization of cultural heritage also provides the option of developing replicas and accurate representations that can be put on exhibit, instead of using the original artifact. This enhances on one hand, the interaction between people and cultural heritage; and on the other hand, it safeguards the physical integrity of the original objects. Either way, it is clear that these technologies improve the approach that people have towards cultural heritage, and also how they can interpret it.
Conclusions
Undoubtedly, 3D modeling is a valuable resource for cultural heritage, since it provides key benefits for the conservation, documentation, recreation and analysis of cultural assets. This enormous contribution enhances the way of taking care and working with cultural heritage, by creating digital resources, proper documentation, accurate data and metadata that can be easily use, analyzed and archived.
Furthermore, 3D modeling allows a modern way of interaction between people and cultural materials or cultural heritage sites. It has become in a new way to access cultural assets and cultural information, transforming the approach people and scholars have in relation to cultural heritage.
References
Campanaro, D., Landeschi, G., Dell’Unto, N., Leander Touti, A., 2016. “3D GIS for cultural heritage restoration: A ‘white box’workflow.” Journal of Cultural Heritage 18, pp. 321–332.
Galeazzi, F., 2016. “Towards the definition of best 3D practices in archaeology: Assessing 3D documentation techniques for intra-site data recording.” Journal of Cultural Heritage 17, pp. 159–169.
Guidi, G., Beraldin, J., Atzeni, C., 2004. “High-Accuracy 3-D Modeling of Cultural Heritage: The Digitizing of Donatello’s “Maddalena””. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, Vol. 13, №3, pp. 370–380.
Pieraccini, M., Guidi, G., Atzeni, C., 2001. “3D Digitizing of Cultural Heritage”. Journal of Cultural Heritage 2, pp. 63–70.
