Reality capture technology is getting smaller, smarter, and more portable. The cultural heritage sector is poised for growth.

Last week, Mosaic attended the 30th annual Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies (CHNT) in Vienna. Over three full days of workshops and seminars, a global community of industry professionals and academic researchers came together to explore how innovative technologies are driving the preservation of cultural heritage.

CHNT is an avenue for facilitating policy conversations and shaping sustainable strategies for heritage management. This is especially important as heritage sites face increasing environmental and social challenges.

But while there are challenges, there are also opportunities for economic growth in the tourism sector. Historical preservation of heritage sites is one important step to making these places more accessible. Archeologists, anthropologists, various other researchers, and interested laypersons who otherwise wouldn’t be able to visit a site can gain digital access in extreme detail thanks to emerging technologies.

CHNT was held in Vienna’s City Hall, a historical venue fit for discussions on cultural heritage preservation.

The audience was interdisciplinary. Architects, archaeologists, data scientists, heritage managers, policymakers, and technologists all sat at the same table to share insights and debate issues. Sessions ranged from advanced documentation tools and 3D modelling to conservation case studies. They emphasized accessibility, usability, and the impact of reality capture technologies.

“As the technology becomes more compact and efficient, we’ve seen an expansion from large-scale aerial monitoring and vehicle-based surveying to more portable options. Cultural heritage projects are great proving grounds for backpack solutions, which can go indoors, underground, and down narrow paths built for a time before cars.”

-James Wardlow, Mosaic’s Regional Sales Director EA

Mobile mapping systems for cultural heritage preservation

Outputs from mobile mapping systems serve a wide range of purposes in the field of historical preservation.

Through high-precision photogrammetry, experts can remotely obtain accurate measurements. These support restoration, renovation, and digital replication of fragile or inaccessible sites.

3D modeling, NeRFs, and LiDAR point clouds transform these structures into immersive, interactive experiences. Now, education, research, and storytelling can be more engaging and accessible to audiences worldwide. It also broadens the range of experts who can access a site that may be otherwise off-limits.

The latest innovation in this domain, Gaussian Splatting, adds a new level of realism and visual appeal. They inspire virtual exploration and tourism while preserving the integrity of historical landmarks for future generations. They help bridge the gap between laypersons and 3D modelling experts; their lightweight design makes them easier to work with online than NeRFs.

The Mosaic Xplor, paired here with the optional Mosaic Processor, gives you the tools needed for reality capture projects both indoors and outdoors.

Backpack solutions, like the Mosaic Xplor, are designed specifically for those hard-to-reach areas that cultural preservationists often need to capture. Castle ruins in forests, cathedral interiors, and the narrow cobblestone streets of historical downtowns are now more accessible.

The Mosaic Xplor goes where previous reality capture devices could not: indoors, through natural areas, and down narrow alleyways.

If you’re ready to fully digitize your cultural heritage preservation efforts, reach out to Mosaic today for expert guidance.