Comparative Navigation system for Experiencing 3D Digital Archives of Cultural Heritage

Comparative Navigation system for Experiencing 3D Digital Archives of Cultural Heritage

We have developed a method that enables a user to better understand and enjoy the contents of 3D digital archives, thereby enhancing the user's experience. The system's interactive interface, built using virtual reality technology, enables the user to "walk through" the archives, comparing two or the same content at different points in time. For example, a user can compare the proposed design for a building with the actual building and can compare the states of restoration of a cultural heritage site over time. This ability to perform multilateral comparisons enables the user to clarify the relationship between contents, the influence of one content on another, and the causal relationship between contents. Testing of a prototype system for a 3D digital archive of cultural heritage sites showed that it worked smoothly and that the users could easily operate the navigation system.