The Complexity and Quality in 3D Digitisation of the Past: Challenges and Risks

Abstract This paper is focusing on the exceptional results of the EU Study (VIGIE2020/654) to map the parameters, formats, standards, benchmarks, and methodologies relating to 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage (CH). The overall objective of the paper is to further the quality of 3D digitisation process by enabling cultural heritage professionals, institutions, content-developers, stakeholders, and academics to define and produce high-quality digitisation standards for tangible cultural heritage assets. This study identified for the first time in this domain, key parameters of the digitisation process, estimated the relative complexity and how it is linked to technology, its impact on quality and its various factors. It will also present standards and formats used for 3D digitisation, including data types, data formats and metadata schemas for 3D structures.