Training Activities

The general field of training is IT innovative and state-of-art applications to tangible Cultural Heritage. This includes, among others, the following topics:

• Automatic data acquisition: techniques for 3D data acquisition (3D scanners, structured light, photogrammetry). GPS. Total station. Digital photo and video. Digitisation of cultural heritage information. Text digitization and automatic recognition (e.g for written sources, ancient languages, etc.). Ubiquitous computing.

• Data organization: Archaeological documentation & standards. Museum documentation. Technology for cultural data management: databases, XML encoding. Ontologies. Methodological problems related to documentation. Different scales of applications (objects, sites, museums, monuments, landscapes) and related issues. Use of secondary sources: previous and old reports, ancient and historic texts, maps, images and drawings.

• Data management and processing: Database-based and native XML-based archival systems. GIS and their use. 3D modelling. Multimedia production. Storage-related problems: technological and social issues.

• Interfaces: Design and evaluation of interfaces. Direct or web access to cultural archives. User profiling and multi-layered access. Personalisation. Multi-modal interfaces. Wearable and portable appliances. Integration issues (groups, outdoor and monument environments, …).

• Communication and interpretation: Digital museology. VR applications. Storytelling methodology and technology.

• Dissemination and publication: Electronic publication; digital preservation; interoperability; common information environments. IPR management. Integration with tourism and local development.

• Methodological issues: Credibility and validation. User evaluation of use and effect of IT applications (quantitative and qualitative analysis).

• Social and economic issues: Sustainabilty. Socio-economic models for CH. Business models. Impact of cross-cultural issues on Cultural Informatics.

As far as on-site activity is concerned, the research projects will aim at objects, monuments, museums and sites. The geographical distribution of application sites and case-studies will cover Europe , the Mediterranean area and possibly other areas in the world. Historic periods go from Prehistory to modern times (industrial archaeology and World War II, for instance).