1. Preserving Cultural Heritage: Using 3D virtualized
world
Vidyas G (IT 11 6086 46) Moulana S.U.A.K (IT 11 6035 28)
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
Samarajeewa C.N.A (IT 10 0768 80) Marikar M.A (IT 11 6034 50)
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
Magalarachchi M.A.S.I.N (IT 11 6085 78) Jayathunga R.D.A.C (IT 07 MI 1180 74)
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
Abstract— Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage represents aesthetic beauty of the structures around the country. It has many
valuable monuments which have a detailed story dating back over 2500 years and which are fading away. Therefore
these should be preserved and documented for future generations and possibly used for educational purposes. Within
the relevant methods of the Information Technology which can be applied to ensure that the cultural heritage of Sri
Lanka is kept alive, by the accuracy and realistic 3D ‘shape capture’ would help preserve this. The virtual
reconstruction of cultural heritage sites is becoming a significant field in the 3D modeling area. The following document
proposes on how an integrated approach can be made based on the 3D development and designing which will help users
interact with the program. Different techniques will be used to create the 3D architecture and at the end all the acquired
data will have to be integrated into a single 3D model. As an example of the model of the Sigiriya rock which will require
many different angle of photography. Therefore the digitization of cultural heritage is important.
Keywords— Digitization of cultural history, 3D modelling, virtual reconstruction, user interaction with the program.
I. INTRODUCTION
The project is of a ‘3D’ virtual world where as to the user can
interact with the program and walk through it. The projects
main aim is to help preserve Sri Lanka’s fast fading highly
esteemed cultural heritage site, monuments and greatly valued
artifacts. The project will also give the users a ‘3D’ virtual
world where as to user can have a closer look at the sites and
virtually feel them in their presence. Preserving the historical
sites and monuments in the website as a whole ‘3D’ world is
particularly important.
A. Research Questions
In this paper, several questions will be addressed:
 How to create the website with the ‘3D’ objects
embedded into it?
 What will be the issues regarding to the hosting of the
site?
 What issues will arise when connecting the virtual
world and the website?
 What are the factors to be considered when running
the virtual world in the website?
These questions did arise regarding the hosting of the site and
embedding the virtual world in it. Creating 3D objects,
software known as Autodesk Maya was used. The 3D objects
which will have to be imported to the Unity web player which
will allow us to access the virtual world in the website itself,
but this a bit complex as there is only a certain amount of load
the web player can host. Connecting the virtual world to the
website is quite a task. Texturing the 3D objects through
Maya makes it a bit complicating as it will make the website
slow. Understanding the system and how it works and
defining the specific requirements for it. The webpage
interfaces will be built by visual studio. The models will be
created by Autodesk Maya and textures will be done on Maya
as well. The research has a lot of planning and the scope
should be analysed well. The network-infra structures and
interfaces are also quite a bit complex.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
This system is a ‘3D’ integrated website that allows users to
not only to view information on the cultural history of Sri
Lanka but also allows the users to walk through a virtual tour
of Sigiriya. Sri Lanka does not have a digitalized way of
storing the cultural and historical monuments that are still
standing. Therefore, with the use of unity web player will be
hosting the site where the users will be in a virtual
environment and can view Sigiriya and see many in details of
it. As Sri Lanka, doesn’t have such a high tech way of viewing
or storing the historical artifacts, this helps preserve certain
historical areas. Not only the virtual tour helps view the

2. historical site but also gives information through the website
regarding on other most important historical site and cultural
artifacts as well.
General Objectives –
• Preserving the Heritage
• Preserving the heritage sites and cultural artifacts
through digitization
• ‘3D’ World
• The complete virtual tour will be on a scaled 3D‟
modelled structure.
Specific Objectives –
• Preferred Starting Point
• User can start from any point with specific locations.
Moving from one location to another is immediate.
• Map - A map will be provided on the side of the
screen and the users will be able to navigate using it.
Related Research:
• Preserving Europe’s Cultural Heritage in the
Digital World- A research project done by
University of Cologne. [1]
• Preservation of Architectural Heritage through
3D digitization - A real-world digitization projects
involving monuments and urban areas. [2]
• Virtual Agents and 3D Virtual Worlds for
Preserving and Simulating Cultures - to discover
the elements that are associated with learning and
preserving cultures and to produce an integrated
framework enabling culture preservation and
learning that incorporates all those elements. [3]
• Hellenic Cultural Heritage through Immersive
Virtual Archaeology - Virtual archaeology refers to
the use of 3D computer models of ancient buildings
and artifacts visualized through immersive
technologies. [4]
• Recoding the Nautical Archaeology: Virtual
Museum of Underwater Cultural Heritage in
Turkey - Explores the methods of analysis,
visualization and communication embedded in this
online system towards the development of a virtual
museum. [5]
• Reviving the past: Cultural Heritage meets
Virtual Reality - Interactive virtual environments
developed at an institution of informal education and
discusses the issues involved in developing
immersive interactive virtual archaeology projects
for the broad public. [6]
• Virtual Restoration of Cultural Heritage through
Real-Time 3D Models Projection – The restoration
of heritages by using real-time 3D models. [7]
• From 3D reconstruction to virtual reality: A
complete methodology for digital archaeological
exhibition - models of archaeological finds
(reconstructed using a 3D Scanner and a high
definition camera). Most virtual reconstructions are
based on 3D scanning tech. [8]
• Multiple Techniques Approach to the 3D Virtual
Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage - the virtual
reconstruction of cultural heritage sites through 3D
techniques and skills. [9]
• Virtual Tabo: Geocommunication for the
Preservation of Cultural Heritage with the Help
of Multimedia Technology - Geocommunication for
the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. [10]
• Tourism and Digitization of Cultural Heritage -
Connections between tourism, memory institutions
and digitization of cultural heritage. [11]
• Preservation and Management of the UNESCO
World Heritage site of Bamiyan: Laser Scan
Documentation and Virtual Reconstruction of the
Destroyed Buddha Figures and the Archeological
Remains - The virtual reconstruction is embedded in
the long term management plan for the entire World
Heritage Site. [12]
• Multimedia Technology and 3D Environments
Used in the Preservation and Dissemination of
Portuguese Cultural Heritage - Virtual
Environments to maintain, preserve and promote
Cultural Heritage. [13]
• A website on Jerusalem – Includes a 3D tour, HD
pictures and videos and educational games. [14]
• A website on the heritage of Canada – Includes
detailed information on the heritages of Canada. [15]
III. METHODOLOGY
To type
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
To type
V. CONCLUSION
To type
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