Google is known for imitating historical sites online and now it is going a step ahead and recreating those sites technologically that are at risk of being disappeared due to climate change.
An Art & Culture collection with the name “Heritage on the Edge” will be launched with around 50 exhibitions that will illustrate the effects of changing climate on historical sites. Five locations with 3D details will also be recreated, making 25 models overall, using scans, photogrammetry, and footage through drones.
The models will include the clear portrayal of statues at Rapa Nui of Easter Island, Edinburgh’s new and old towns, Kilwa Kisiwani’s trading port in Tanzania, the Mosque City of Bagerhat in Bangladesh and Chan Chan, an ancient city of Peru.
Mobile-only augmented reality Pocket Galleries will also be featured to show the inside of two locations, of Nine Dome Mosque in Bangladesh and Gareeza Fort in Tanzania.
Google used ICOMOS and archival nonprofit CyArk to create these models. Google said the source material of CyArk can be downloaded by anyone and used for either research project or any other purpose. Site managers will be aided in conserving the history and share the efforts publically.
The models recreated might not save the site that is affected by climate change and the rising sea level by the company wants to take a step to slow down the climate change.
If nothing else, these models will at least store the historical sites digitally to let the coming generations how they looked like before decomposing.
Read next: The Environmental Impact of Unnecessary Emails
An Art & Culture collection with the name “Heritage on the Edge” will be launched with around 50 exhibitions that will illustrate the effects of changing climate on historical sites. Five locations with 3D details will also be recreated, making 25 models overall, using scans, photogrammetry, and footage through drones.
The models will include the clear portrayal of statues at Rapa Nui of Easter Island, Edinburgh’s new and old towns, Kilwa Kisiwani’s trading port in Tanzania, the Mosque City of Bagerhat in Bangladesh and Chan Chan, an ancient city of Peru.
Mobile-only augmented reality Pocket Galleries will also be featured to show the inside of two locations, of Nine Dome Mosque in Bangladesh and Gareeza Fort in Tanzania.
Extreme weather impacts everything including historical sites such as Chan Chan, Peru. But we are working with local communities as well as @CyArk and @ICOMOS to help digitally preserve our shared history and plan how to adapt. https://t.co/5QYXQ9I1hZ @ClimateHeritage pic.twitter.com/hmugp4y2R1— Google Arts&Culture (@googlearts) January 30, 2020
Google used ICOMOS and archival nonprofit CyArk to create these models. Google said the source material of CyArk can be downloaded by anyone and used for either research project or any other purpose. Site managers will be aided in conserving the history and share the efforts publically.
The models recreated might not save the site that is affected by climate change and the rising sea level by the company wants to take a step to slow down the climate change.
If nothing else, these models will at least store the historical sites digitally to let the coming generations how they looked like before decomposing.
Read next: The Environmental Impact of Unnecessary Emails
