Objectives
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Project Objectives
The CulTech project aims to advance interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cultural heritage, digital technologies and emerging computational methods. Through a series of coordinated research activities, the project seeks to develop innovative methodologies and technological solutions for the documentation, analysis, preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage.
The main objectives of CulTech focus on the development of digital tools, the application of artificial intelligence and immersive technologies, and the creation of sustainable strategies for improving access to cultural heritage resources.
O1: Development and validation of Digital Twin (DT) creation methodologies for tangible, intangible and born digital CH.
This objective aims at the development of fundamental studies and research, both theoretical and experimental, regarding the creation of the DT in the field of CH, for the preservation, survey and valuation of CH in an innovative and sustainable way. The development of CH, arts and cultural and creative sectors can thus receive a boost in development through the use of DTs in combination with augmented and virtual reality. DTs can enhance the visitor experience in museums and heritage sites through interactive virtual tours, historical re-enactments and enriched cultural insights, attracting a wider audience and creating new sources of income for CH institutions and new opportunities for the creative industries. The activities related to this objective aim to create DTs for both tangible and intangible cultural heritage in a unified and interdisciplinary approach. This project objective responds to the following impact elements from Romania’s Strategic Research Agenda: SR2, SR8 and SR12.
O2: Exploring and assessing the impact of emerging technologies on the conservation, knowledge and dissemination of CH, with the aim of developing innovative and sustainable methodologies that improve access to and understanding of CH globally.
This objective facilitates the development of a holistic and multidisciplinary approach of CH, involving collaborations between specialists from different fields such as technology, history and social sciences, archaeology, museum sciences, ethnology, bibliology etc. to ensure that emerging technologies are applied in a way that respects and capitalizes on CH in all its complexity. To achieve this goal, we propose to investigate how emerging technologies (Robotics, AI, 3D printing, AR/VR, IoT, etc.) can contribute to the conservation, knowledge and dissemination/valuation of CH, of the arts and the cultural and creative sectors. CulTech therefore aims at exploring emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the way CH is preserved, presented and experienced by the public; assessing the impact these technologies have on CH, including benefits and possible challenges or limitations; developing new approaches and strategies that use emerging technologies to facilitate a better conservation and accessibility of CH, while guaranteeing authentic, multimodal and educational cultural interaction. AI algorithms will be used for advanced analysis of data collected from archaeological sites, including pattern recognition for artefacts, installations and structures for various purposes such as detecting forgeries, authenticating works of art or reconstructing the ways in which they were produced / the technologies from past (reverse engineering). AI will be used to create apps that provide personalized tours and individual educational experiences for museum and in-situ visitors, tailored to their interests and behaviour. The use of Additive Manufacturing and robots to create replicas for damaged or lost archaeological artifacts and structures, allowing their study and display without the risk of damaging the originals or for educational purposes and exhibitions, making CH more accessible to schools and the general public. CulTech will investigate how new materials from the composite category can be used in restoration or the creation of replicas. Technical solutions will be developed with robots capable of carrying out precise conservation interventions, such as cleaning artefacts or applying conservation treatments in areas difficult to access, biologically / chemically contaminated or to eliminate the repetitive work of restorers. Implementation of robotic systems (four-legged or wheeled/tracked robots) for continuous monitoring of environmental conditions in museums or archaeological sites, for 3D scanning or for handling musical instruments. Adaptive monitoring of cultural heritage sites using IoT aims to develop and implement an integrated system based on IoT/IIoT sensors to monitor ambient conditions (such as temperature, humidity and light), to manage the adaptive conservation of CH. This system would allow a proactive and personalized intervention for each individual object or site, ensuring more efficient and sustainable conservation. The project aims at creating VR/AR simulations that historically reconstruct sites or events, putting into practice the concept of alternative history, offering users a deep and immersive understanding of the historical and cultural contexts. It also intend to develop VR/AR applications that allow individuals to use digital tools / digital archaeology in multi-sensory storytelling which enables non-specialists to engage with sites, artefacts or immaterial elements (Bria & Casanova Vasquez 2022 in vol. Critical Archaeology in the Digital Age) generating public engagement and interest while facilitating access to cultural and educational experiences for people who cannot physically visit museums or sites, including people with disabilities. This project objective responds to the following impact elements from Romania’s Strategic Research Agenda: SR1,2,9 and SR12-15.
O3: The development and implementation of advanced 3D modelling and digital restoration techniques for the conservation and restoration of damaged CH, with the aim of improving digital preservation methods and facilitating the public’s access to cultural goods, and the development of cultural entrepreneurship through the use of emerging technologies.
This objective is related to a series of actions and activities (of which some are already exercised by different members of CulTech) such as: applying artificial intelligence and computer graphics techniques to digitally reconstruct and restore damaged parts/ aspects of CH; creating complex 3D models that reflect heritage objects /artefacts and sites in their original state, using available historical and archaeological data; implementation of digital simulations to test different restoration and conservation techniques, assessing their impact on the structural and aesthetic integrity of the objects; developing digital restoration methods that allow the review of restored versions of damaged artefacts and sites without physically affecting them; using of AR and VR to reconstruct and present to the public historical sites or objects in their original state, providing an educational and immersive perspective, exploring the concept of ‟Alternative History”, through the use of digital replicas that offer new perspectives and different interpretations of history and culture. These activities are intended to support the preservation and valuation of CH in an innovative and accessible manner. Digital reconstructions and replicas of heritage assets can be used in the economic zone in several innovative ways, providing significant opportunities for economic growth, development of cultural tourism and public education. Digital replicas can be used to create detailed models for the production of souvenirs, scale replicas and other products with commercial potential. These products can be sold in museums, online or in specialty stores. In these ways, digital reconstructions and replicas of heritage assets can play a vital role in the economy, providing substantial benefits for tourism, education, and cultural marketing. This project objective responds to the following impact elements from Romania’s Strategic Research Agenda: SR1,2,3,5,12 and SR13.
O4. Development and evaluation of a multimodal interaction system with CH that integrates technologies of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), tactile interfaces and voice recognition to provide an immersive, educational and accessible experience to all categories of visitors, enhancing thus the public accessibility and the commitment to CH.
To achieve this goal, solutions combining AR and VR will be researched and developed to create interactive historical re-enactments and 3D visualizations of artefacts and sites. Immersive scenarios that allow users to experience history and culture in an engaging and informative way will be implemented and analysed. Among the activities related to this objective there are: integrating haptic technology to provide tactile feedback that simulates touching real materials, improving understanding of the textures and materials used in historical artifacts; exploring voice recognition and natural interaction to enable visitors to query exhibition information in a natural way, using spoken language or gestures; developing and implementing of an integrated system that uses the colour tactile alphabet, Braille extension (invented by a member of CulTech’s team, Tudor Scripor) and assistive technologies to improve the access of the visually impaired to cultural heritage, ensuring an inclusive and equal experience for all visitors and eliminating color barriers between the blind and the normal world; testing and evaluating user experience with the multimodal interaction system using methods such as surveys, interviews, and behavioral analysis; ensuring that the system is accessible to people with different abilities, including those with visual or hearing impairments, by adapting interfaces and modes of interaction; promoting cultural inclusion by offering content in multiple languages and culturally adapting information. This project objective responds to the following impact elements from Romania’s Strategic Research Agenda: SR1,2 and SR12.
O5. The development and implementation of an integrated strategy for the accessibility, promotion and conservation of CH through digitization, with the aim of maximizing the social and economic impact through the publication of specialised articles, effective marketing campaigns and the exploitation of opportunities for the economic valuation of digital content.
This goal is to be achieved by actions and activities such as: developing digital technologies and platforms to enable easy and interactive access to CH collections, including the creation of comprehensive digital archives; analysing and evaluating the impact of social media channels on the promotion and valorisation of cultural heritage, identifying effective communication strategies and public engagement, with the aim of optimizing the use of these platforms to increase awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage globally; developing educational and curricular materials to be integrated into school and university programs, thus contributing to continuous cultural education; analysing and using cutting-edge technologies for the digital preservation of CH, in order to ensure its protection and transmission to future generations; Analysing and exploiting opportunities for monetization of digitized heritage, including content licensing, creation of derivative products (such as virtual replicas or themed merchandise) and the organization of virtual events. This project objective responds to the following impact elements from Romania’s Strategic Research Agenda: SR1,2,5,8 and SR12.