Heritage Dissemination Through the Virtual and Augmented Realities

Abstract

The heritage virtualization for conservation and diffusion is a reality that is endowing visitors with museum experiences which were unimaginable few years ago. The more and more widespread Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality applications are able to show virtual reconstructions of a certain cultural good in different ways and enhance user’s comprehension and interpretation. However, in order to preserve the scientific rigor of these reconstructions it becomes necessary to develop a methodology basing on both a historical-archaeological study and a suitable digitalised survey of the cultural good, which in addition contribute to the conservation of it. Following, some remarkable cases featuring Virtual and Augmented Reality applications are collected. All of them are good examples to see how these techniques improve heritage diffusion in museums, archaeological sites or through internet. Furthermore, a methodology presenting general guidelines for the development of this kind of applications is described using the experience and results of a research project entitled El Sanatorio de san Francisco de Borja de Fontilles. Modelo de análisis para la recuperación integral de complejos sanitarios de valor patrimonial (HAR2013-42060-R) and funded by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain.