You have probably heard of the "Internet of Things", but the "Internet of Historical Things" may be new to you. The European DigiArt research project seeks to provide new, cost efficient solutions to the capture, processing and display of cultural artefacts.
Using drones is not only efficient, but also avoids gaps in the pictures, as mechatronic engineer Frederic Bezombes from Liverpool's John Moores university explains: "With cameras on the ground and always the same perspective you are never able to accurately map what is above. But with a drone equipped with cameras with wide angles we’re able to fill those gaps in just one go.”
DigiArt coordinator and Paleoanthropologist Isabelle De Groote adds: "You can cover large areas in a very short space of time without having to walk on what may be very fragile areas."
The drone is equipped with three cameras that record every corner of the cave. Each object is mapped in its own archaeological context.
Scientists want to use the 3D animations to make video-games and create interactive web databases to better promote European cultural assets.
DigiArt is a three year project until May 2018 with a total budget of just over 3 million Euros. 2.35 million Euros are contributed by the EU.
A report on the DigiArt-Project is featured on Futuris, the science programme of the pan-European television channel Euronews. It was shown more than a dozen times on TV until 14 May 2017 and remains available online:
Euronews video (4:20), also available in DE, EL, ES, FR, HU, IT, PT and a number of other languages
Takeaway (0:47), short version of the video with music and English subtitles. No narration.
Cordis factsheet
Report summary