3D Data and Visualization in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Studies

This course will provide students with the skills to create 3D models of cultural heritage for digital exhibitions. Such models are a valuable resource democratizing cultural heritage because it provides the chance to be distributed and displayed widely for analysis, display, and distribution. The course will also problematize digital exhibitions and museums and provide a deeper understanding of the surrounding ethical issues. A focus will be the complex issues surrounding the theory of digital archaeology including public archaeology, critical heritage management, and theories of human vision and data visualization which will be discussed critically and in depth. The course follows a hands-on teaching philosophy acquainting students with 3D modelling software. Furthermore, it will refresh and deepen knowledge about techniques like photogrammetry, laser scanning, and other visualization methods. Focus will be put on models that can readily be integrated into digital exhibits and enable students to create their own 3D models and present them in a meaningful way. This includes a full understanding of the importance of para- and metadata, how to source these data in cooperation with museums and the private sector, and such data and its interpretations can be presented ethically. Since the course will focus on transferable skills, the teaching will offer long-term sustainability for the participants. As such, the course will enable students to acquire 3D data, formulate appropriate research questions, and answer them using a sound theoretical framework.