Understanding Cultural Heritage in Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) can help us explore and learn about cultural heritage (CH) in a very interactive way. But heritage is more than just buildings—it also includes stories, traditions, and experiences. To represent heritage well in VR, we need to carefully choose what information to use and in what order.

Current Data:

The Most Reliable Sources: The first sources to use are those we can measure or see today. This includes: Actual measurements: Using tools like 3D scanners, cameras, or GPS to get the exact size and shape of a place or object. Mathematical measurements: Calculations and models based on technology to estimate details we cannot measure directly. These sources are considered the most reliable because they can be directly verified—they show what is physically there now.

Image-Based Modelling:

Learning from Pictures: When a heritage site has changed or been lost, we can use pictures, paintings, or films from the past. Manual modelling: Using old photographs or paintings as a guide to recreate scenes in 3D. Automatic modelling: Stitching together multiple images to create a 3D scene. This helps fill in details that we cannot measure today, but these sources are a little less reliable because they are indirect—they depend on how accurately someone captured or painted the scene.

Historical and Theorised Sources:

Stories from the Past Some details cannot be measured or seen, so we rely on historical sources: Ethnographic sources: Interviews, life stories, poems, and documentaries that capture how people experienced the heritage. Iconographic narratives: Paintings, murals, films, or illustrations that tell stories visually. Architectural comparisons: Looking at buildings from the same time and style to estimate missing details. These sources are less directly verifiable, but when used carefully, they provide insights into the culture, daily life, and intangible practices of a place.

Artificial Sources:

Filling Small Gaps Sometimes, small details are missing and need to be imagined. Artificial sources include: 3D models or objects created entirely from imagination. Elements inspired by similar places or stories but not directly verified. These should be used sparingly and clearly marked, because they are the least reliable. They are helpful only to complete a representation when no other data exists.

Why Use a Hierarchy?

By following this order—from most to least reliable—we: Make VR experiences as accurate as possible. Combine physical facts with stories and cultural practices. Avoid guessing too much, while still creating a rich, immersive experience. This hierarchy ensures that VR doesn’t just show what a place looked like physically, but also communicates the people, culture, and life that made it special.