PhD project in Accessing and Experiencing Historical Sites for Research and Public Engagement Through Immersive Technologies and Advanced Remote Sensing and Spectral Imaging

This project will develop new and engaging means to present and explore data from historical sites with the help of immersive technologies. This will give both researchers and museum visitors access of a low-cost, adaptable system that can visualise unique data provided by advanced remote spectral imaging and sensing which can reveal hidden aspects of an historical site and provide large scale material or chemical maps.

Historic environments include both cultural and natural heritage, which differ in type and scale, making the virtual preservation and monitoring of these heritage assets a challenge. Currently, virtual preservation of heritage assets is achieved through ‘digitisation’ which usually means recording the 3D and colour images of the asset. A 3D model is usually generated for audience engagement.

We propose a new, user-friendly generation of holistic digital preservation of heritage assets that is fit for the purpose of research (e.g. curatorial, art history, conservation) and audience engagement.  By deploying ground-based and UAV-based 3D spectral imaging to collect both high-resolution 3D colour information and spectral information per image pixel, it is possible to record and monitor not only the visible but also invisible information, material identity and degradation.

The objectives will be to:

1)Extend the digitisation of historic assets beyond the state-of-the -art of 3D visual recording to include spectral information and hence material characterisation and chemical maps

2)Explore cost-effective and user-friendly immersive solutions for audience engagement including virtual restoration to the original appearance

3)Explore new ways of linking, organising, annotating, and automatically processing the large datasets using AI algorithms.

The result will be a new tool for both researchers and the general public to explore and better understand data from historical sites. Due to the differing natures of historic environments, there may be a need for a range of solutions for different types of heritage assets.

This is an interdisciplinary project that requires an enthusiastic student with broad interests in heritage associated disciplines. The project involves Heritage Science, immersive technology and heritage interpretation for audience engagement aspects. You need to have a science background, good computer programming skills, practical skills in operating scientific instruments, able to analyse spectroscopy and imaging data. Experience in Unity or Unreal Engine, Heritage Science a plus. You will be working in both the Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art history and Conservation Lab (ISAAC Lab https://www.isaac-lab.com/ ) and the Connected Experiences Lab (CXLAB http://www.cxlab.org.uk/).