Researchers from Australia’s Macquarie University have developed a Virtual Egyptology program so any of their students will be able to access and examine an interactive library of 3D scanned artifacts from anywhere in the world.
The program was developed by Dr Yann Tristant and Macquarie’s Educational Design and Development Group to provide students unable to physically hold ancient artifacts – due to their extreme fragility – to still have a highly authentic learning experience. He developed a web-based interface that would work across all modern web browsers and on all modern mobile devices so students would be able to access the course without the need for special plug-ins or installing complicated software.
It was successful enough that Macquarie is exploring ways to develop it into a university-wide program that would allow 3D based media and educational tools to be accessible to students and enthusiasts anywhere in the world on any modern internet enabled device. You can try out a simplified beta of the in-browser 3D interface here.
An additional component of the program involves providing selected staff with training and instructions on capturing detailed 3D scans of ancient artifacts and fossils. The 3D scanned material and this new delivery system could be incorporated into any existing courses offered at the university, not just the study of Egypt. Tristant envisions creating a library of artwork, historical documents even geological, biological and anthropological specimens made available to students and faculty.
By using all open sourced programs and software, the team developed a detailed workflow involving 3D scanning techniques, surface texturing, 3D post production methods and the skills to deliver the files to the web interface or even as 3D printable objects. Dr Tristant intends to make the workflow available as a published resource for other members of academia to implement similar programs in their own universities or schools.
It isn’t hard to imagine this new workflow being implemented in schools and museums all over the world, allowing anyone, anywhere to access a massive library of historical artifacts that they may never be able to experience in person. Not only just being able to look at a 3D render of a scanned object but being able to 3D print it so it can actually be held and examined. This could potentially be the start of a true open source educational system.
