A Fusion of Virtual and Physical

Otto Lowe – Transforming collections from one state to another.  

The digital recording of collections in the GLAM sector (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) is an area experiencing rapid advancement, driven by the fast evolution of hardware and software systems, new workflows, increasing processing capacity, and, last but not least, the rise of AI and machine learning in the sector. Similar techniques can be applied to both artefacts and natural history specimens, whether on a small or massive scale, documenting the rich heritage of institutions and making it accessible to scholars and the general public. 

Focusing on the practical challenges, this lecture presents both input and output techniques as they emerge and evolve, with particular attention to the advancement of photogrammetry, macro scanning, and the application of Gaussian Splatting. 

Halley Ramos, André Paul Jauregui – Reconstructing the past through immersive experiences 

Immersive experiences derived from the digitisation of Cultural Heritage are a powerful solution for preservation, dissemination and education purposes. Digitally reconstructing historical sites or objects is a way to preserve what no longer exists, while the immersive environment allows us to put the heritage into context and complete the narration. The lecture presents case studies of dissemination projects aimed at retracing everyday life into their historical context, building a bridge between the past and the present. 

Among the other case studies, Broken Cities is a photogrammetric scanning of conflict-affected sites creating an immersive digital tour. The goal of this project developed in collaboration with ICRC is to highlight urban war impacts on people and places. 

The Tenement Museum Virtual Field Trip is a custom virtual platform for educators to explore 3D models with students to explore the homes of diverse families with roots all over the world, who lived in New York City between the 1860s and the 1980s. 

Glaire Anderson, Sarah Slingluff, Deniz Vural – Partnering with Video Games for Cultural Heritage & Public Impact: the Digital Lab for Islamic Visual Culture & Collections 

Video games have emerged as a powerful educational tool, one of the most significant ways in which the public engages with the past. Moreover, games and immersive digital experiences offer historians of visual culture and cultural heritage professionals a way to shape more inclusive and authentic public perceptions of the past by making academic research and museum collections widely accessible to audiences outside the academy. Scholars recognise the educational value of games in making knowledge accessible and informing public perceptions of the past, yet games that present histories and visual traditions beyond canonical Anglo-European traditions, and specifically those representing times and places from Islamic civilisation, are still relatively rare. This talk presents the work of the Digital Lab for Islamic Visual Culture & Collections ongoing research on using video games to make Islamic art and history widely accessible. The focus will be on the Digital Lab’s work on “Assassin’s Creed Mirage“ and its ‘History of Baghdad’ educational feature, a collaboration that brought together video games, GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) and academic partners.

Álvaro Soler, Eduardo García – The reconstruction of the Kabuto of King Felipe II for Patrimonio Nacional and Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”  

Ubisoft commissioned a physical reconstruction of a Kabuto helmet from 1584, seriously damaged in 1884 during a fire at the Royal Armoury in Madrid, belonging to Patrimonio Nacional. The Kabuto helmet is part of this collection, which is among Europe’s oldest collections on arms and armour. Starting from its digitisation, Factum Arte reconstructed the item first digitally and then physically to recreate its aspect as it was before the fire. At every stage of the process, the project was guided by a commitment to historical accuracy over contemporary aesthetic sensibilities, guided by the director of the Spanish Royal Armoury, Álvaro Soler. 

This meticulous reconstruction effort has not only revived a historical artefact but also ensured its accessibility in the digital age. In collaboration with Ubisoft and Patrimonio Nacional, the Kabuto has been integrated into the Codex “Assassin’s Creed Shadows“, where players can explore its history and significance within the context of Feudal Japan. By incorporating this relic into a widely recognised gaming franchise, this initiative bridges historical research with modern technology, allowing global audiences to engage with cultural heritage in an immersive and interactive way.