Detailed description of project

Given the huge cultural stock of our country, the potential applications of interactive technologies to highlight cultural heritage are inexhaustible. The proposed project seeks a concrete contribution to Aegean settlements and museums characterized by excellent artisanal-industrial tradition and architectural heritage. The relevant settlements (and islands) of the Aegean have been low traffic for much of the year, have been severely pressured by the refugee (Lesvos, Chios) and economic (Tinos) crisis, while their settlements and visitors are not always in interaction with their museums. The continuous connection of the museums of the region with the settlements and the islands has significant benefits for the local community, tourism, education and wider education. The project aims to connect Piraeus Group Cultural Foundation’s museums with settlements and islands through interactive play systems that will utilize mobile phone technologies and detect user movements and focus on highlighting the architectural heritage and craftsmanship respectively. The main objectives of the project are: (a) Digitization and documentation of the architectural heritage of the settlements (HERMES methodology and system) and important museum exhibits with emphasis on 3D content. (b) Linking settlements to museums through tours to visitors from mobile applications that include playfulity and storytelling. (c) Promotion of intangible skill delivery through digital simulation (re)construction with interactive facilities for detecting user movements. (d) Ensuring the sustainability of results through an anthropocentric and participatory design approach, extensive pilot operation, availability of data in open access repositories, creation of open digital courses, scientific publications, sustainable exploitation plan. At the end of the project, each Museum will emerge as a cell of innovation fully integrated into the Place. It is noted that both 1. Piraeus Group Cultural Foundation and HERMES have been awarded the Europa Nostra Award for their contribution to cultural heritage. Also, the proposal has the support of the Municipalities of Chios, Lesvos and Tinos (with letters of support).

Type and scope of work provided

The services provided include the following:
– 3D modelling and rendering of cultural heritage objects from museums
– Animation scenes for storytelling
– Development of game interactions functionality and collection of relevant data
– Pilot cases setup and monitoring at museums
– Integrated system improvement
– Dissemination and exploitation of results (conferences, scientific papers, social media)