Interacting with Cultural Heritage Through Shape Representation Techniques in 3D Modeling Environments

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) representation of cultural heritage in a digital environment is coming into prominence for documentation of geometric and semantic details and the interpretation of shape representation from academic studies to commercial practices. To interpret cultural and historical shapes, the use of the computational medium is expanding with developing technologies. Advanced 3D design and development applications appear every day with distinct functions. However, not every technology provides designers a convenient medium to create, explore, and think naturally. In that sense, digital design mediums and tools become important to enhance the interactivity level with cultural heritage for designers through different interfaces. Particularly, the utilities of design interfaces are essential for preserving reconstructing ruined cultural heritage in the digital design mediums. In this study, we investigate the designers’ creative design process in the context of shape representation methods within the possibilities of two different 3D design interfaces as a computer and virtual reality (VR) interfaces. At first, we conducted a shape exploration exercise to generate the 3D model pieces of the Dark Church in Cappadocia. And then, we used the generated 3D model pieces in a shape representation exercise to observe the seeing, imagining, and acting abilities of designers in computer and VR environments.