Journal of Digital Media & Interaction

Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Innovative Approaches to Preservation and Promotion

Ana Carla Amaro; Erik Champion, Carmen Silva — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:57:13 +0100

Editorial

Virtual Dress, Real Responsibilities: Considerations of 3D CAD Patternmaking to Develop Substitute Garments for Historic Dress Research and Display

Brittany Glassey — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:01:31 +0100

This paper explores how 3D reconstructions of historic dress can be utilized as an aid for the development of real substitute garments and digital visualization for display. While 3D reconstruction is presently implemented in other museology fields, the flexible nature of dress suggests a need for an alternative approach, in addition to ethical considerations from the practitioner’s involvement. This is demonstrated through the development of a substitute skirt for an 1887-1890 Japanese Western-style ceremonial court dress (taireifuku), originally made for and worn by the Meiji Empress. The skirt of the original ensemble is missing and its appearance remains unknown, requiring a substitute skirt to support the original garments when mounted. Following an object-based research approach and advice from experts in dress history and conservation, the author conceptualized a substitute skirt with the assistance of 3D CAD patternmaking software. The result was used as a visual and pattern aid to develop the real substitute skirt that was used with the real taireifuku for two public displays. Furthermore, further utilization of the virtual reconstruction was demonstrated through the author’s development of additional skirt concepts, adapting them for a digital display which was exhibited with the real artefact.

A Digital Twin for the Monastery of Sant Genís de Rocafort, Martorell, Barcelona: Experiences in Research and Dissemination

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Monastery of Sant Genís de Rocafort (Martorell, Barcelona) has been the subject of archaeological excavation for over a decade. This work has uncovered Romanesque structures and some earlier elements, significantly enhancing our understanding of this monument, which is listed as a BCIN (Cultural Asset of National Interest), and its history. However, the site’s location and accessibility challenges have limited the opportunity for certain audiences to visit and learn about it. In this context, the research team has developed a digital twin of the monastery, a three-dimensional recreation that offers significant potential both for heritage dissemination and basic archaeological research. This project has enabled precise documentation of the structures and created an accessible resource that brings the monastery to a wide range of audiences while also allowing us to experiment with different reconstruction hypotheses. The process of creating the digital twin has raised a series of methodological and conceptual challenges, such as the selection of technological tools and decisions about how to present the site’s narrative. This article reflects on the experience gained throughout this process, exploring the implications of these decisions for both archaeological research and cultural dissemination.

Simulacrum or Simulation of Heritage: The Abade Case Study

Diogo Menezes Costa — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:28:17 +0100

Archaeology has undergone significant developments in recent times and is constantly adapting to the changing demands of modern society. As the contemporary world experiences constant and rapid change, the use of information technology resources is not merely a passive and complementary element of research, but an active and dynamic component in shaping the field. This article acknowledges the importance of this relationship and aims to explore the role of technology in enhancing archaeological research. Firstly, we will discuss the importance of computer simulation in archaeology as a novel way of "thinking the past" and as a training "metaphor site" for new professionals. Secondly, we argue that this new approach to archaeological science is not only a methodological advantage for predictive theses, but also an experimental platform for archaeological practice among sites. Thirdly, we bring up the potential of agent-based models and expert systems in the study of complex human and non-human systems, and in the construction of archaeological knowledge through an artificial inference engine. Finally, we provide an archaeological case study with the Abade Artificial Archaeological Site project (AAAS). In the following section, we provide a detailed account of this extensive project and demonstrate the potential applications and implications of virtual models and computer simulations in archaeology and beyond.

Digital Marketing in the Promotion of Cultural Heritage: The Case of the City of Ammaia

Maria Gorete Ferreira Dinis — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:48:09 +0100

The rapid advance of digital technologies and media has required cultural institutions to adapt to this new reality. However, many remain unaware of this requirement or face limitations in terms of resources and technical knowledge, which makes it difficult to digitise their activities and define an integrated digital marketing and communication strategy. As this is still a recent reality that requires organisations to adapt, it is necessary to carry out studies that support decision-makers in their decision-making processes and contribute to furthering scientific knowledge in this area, especially with regard to smaller cultural institutions or those located in sparsely populated territories. Thus, the main objective of this study is to analyse the digital marketing and communication strategy of a cultural institution in Portugal, namely the Cidade de Ammaia Foundation. Based on this case study, a mixed methodology was adopted, which included analysing data available online, in particular on the Google and Bing search engines, as well as on the Google Business Profile platform, and conducting a semi-structured interview. The results indicated that although the City of Ammaia Foundation is present on some digital channels, it has not devised a digital marketing and communication strategy, mainly due to a lack of technical knowledge and relevant background information that hinders its realisation.

Playing with Diplomatic Culture: A Comparative Study of Esports Policies in South Korea and Brazil

Ian Bacellar, Tarcízio Macedo — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:58:23 +0100

This article proposes an analysis of public policies aimed at electronic sports (esports) as a tool for cultural diplomacy in South Korea and Brazil. Its objective is to determine whether esports are used by these states as a foreign policy resource to achieve absolute gains in the international sphere, based on a qualitative analysis of data obtained from South Korean and Brazilian legislation on the subject. The corpus consists of 50 documents addressing this theme, retrieved from the official websites of the South Korean and Brazilian governments. Among the main findings, the South Korean government's consolidated approach to esports stands out. In contrast, Brazil lacks a public policy consensus regarding the subject. However, some international public prestige gains are achieved, even though the state's foundations regarding esports remain incipient. This study presents originality by exploring potential connections between the field of International Relations and the universe of electronic sports, a growing expression of contemporary youth culture.

Low-cost mobile 3D scanning of heritage objects to facilitate long-distance research collaboration - a technical note

Dirk H.R. Spennemann, Sharnie Hurford — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:07:49 +0100

While three-dimensional visualization has become a common tool in various cultural heritage applications, the emphasis has been on high fidelity representation, essentially the generation of digital twins or digital reconstructions. Overlooked appears to be the utility of 3D in research collaboration where one of the researchers has access to the original, potentially fragile object while the others are based in remote locations. This paper describes the application of a low-cost, mobile and swiftly executable 3D scanning process and discusses the benefits of this for remote collaboration of three-dimensional objects of material culture.