D-TECH: An Open-Source Platform for Heritage Data Sharing and Collaborative Work

Abstract

This paper presents D-TECH, an open-source platform designed to support the documentation, visualization, and collaborative management of cultural heritage assets through a distributed, modular, and semantically driven environment. Developed under the D-TECH project and funded by the DTC Lazio initiative, the platform incorporates state-of-the-art technologies for 3D acquisition, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and ensures semantic interoperability aligned with ARCO standards. D-TECH addresses critical institutional challenges in the management and reuse of 3D heritage data, providing tools for storage, visualization, and sharing within a modular and federated environment. This platform enables public institutions to manage their digital assets in-house, ensuring full control, visualization, annotation, and dissemination through a federated network of nodes. The paper details the software architecture, data workflows, 3D visualization tools, and use scenarios, highlighting its role in facilitating collaborative heritage work and unlocking the potential of existing 3D data archives.