Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.5
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural...
applsci-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural Heritage

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Computing and Artificial Intelligence".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 8792

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marek Milosz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, ul Nadbystrzycka 36B, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Interests: software engineering; project management; 3D information technology; 3D motion acquisition and analysis; human-computer interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jacek Kęsik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Interests: computer graphics; 3D scanning and visualization; 3D-imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Montusiewicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Interests: motor competence; computer graphics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the journal Applied Sciences entitled “Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural Heritage“ aims to present recent challenges and developments in the use of digital 3D technologies to protect, preserve and popularise cultural heritage. All interested authors are invited to submit for possible publication in this Special Issue the latest results in 3D digital technology applications to record, document and protect cultural heritage and make it available to everyone for the research, educational and social purposes.

All papers need to present original, previously unpublished work and will be subject to the normal standards and peer-review processes of this journal. Potential topics include but are not limited to:

  • IT in cultural heritage;
  • 3D modelling and visualisation of historical artefacts and buildings;
  • 3D digitalisation technologies, devices and methods;
  • Motion capture and similar techniques for cultural heritage data acquisition;
  • Multi-spectral analysis in cultural heritage;
  • Digital reconstruction of damaged historical artefacts, sites and buildings;
  • 3D Information technologies in documenting archaeological sites and artefacts;
  • Digital availability of cultural heritage;
  • Modern exhibition techniques, virtual and interactive museums;
  • Gamification in cultural heritage dissemination, promotion and education;
  • 3D printing for cultural heritage;
  • Virtual 3D historical worlds;
  • Providing cultural heritage to the blind;
  • 3D information technologies in the renovation of historical objects;
  • New trends in 3D information technologies for cultural heritage;
  • Using artificial intelligence to document, research, reconstruct and protect cultural heritage;
  • Advanced machine learning technologies in cultural heritage research.

Prof. Dr. Marek Milosz
Dr. Jacek Kęsik
Prof. Dr. Jerzy Montusiewicz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • IT in cultural heritage
  • digital availability and accessibility of cultural heritage
  • 3D scanning and visualization
  • motion capture for cultural heritage
  • 3D modelling
  • cultural heritage dissemination
  • 3D models archiving
  • virtual reconstruction
  • virtual presence
  • modern exhibition techniques
  • haptic cognition
  • gamification in cultural heritage
  • 3D printing of cultural heritage artifacts
  • games for cultural heritage promotion and education
  • 3D techniques for research of cultural heritage
  • AI in cultural heritage research

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 13439 KB  
Article
Quality Assessment of Digital 3D Models of Museum Artefacts from the Mobile LiDAR iPhone and Structured Light Scanners
by Jerzy Montusiewicz, Marek Milosz, Wojciech Sarnowski and Rahim Kayumov
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 2100; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16042100 - 21 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 753
Abstract
Creating a digital 3D model of museum artefacts has been a common practice for many years. Such models can be used for archiving, research, and marketing purposes, as well as to counteract various types of exclusion. A digital copy created using professional 3D [...] Read more.
Creating a digital 3D model of museum artefacts has been a common practice for many years. Such models can be used for archiving, research, and marketing purposes, as well as to counteract various types of exclusion. A digital copy created using professional 3D scanners using 3D structured-light scanning (3D SLS) or terrestrial laser scanning technology requires expensive equipment, specialised software for postprocessing, and a trained team. The introduction of mobile phones with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors and the development of appropriate open-access software have enabled the use of phones to generate digital 3D models. This study compares the quality of 3D models created with 3D SLS and mobile LiDAR technologies using three identical small museum artefacts from the Silk Road area of the Samarkand State University museum in Uzbekistan. They were digitised in 2017 and 2025. The results indicate that digital 3D models generated with an iPhone 16 PRO MAX device using Scaniverse LiDAR software are incomplete and thus less versatile. Therefore, they cannot serve as archival models. Their accuracy and quality (mesh density, size, and texture quality), as well as the speed of generating 3D models, make them ideal for marketing purposes and digital tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural Heritage)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 9637 KB  
Article
Low-Altitude Photogrammetry and 3D Modeling for Engineering Heritage: A Case Study on the Digital Documentation of a Historic Steel Truss Viaduct
by Tomasz Ciborowski, Dominik Księżopolski, Dominika Kuryłowicz, Hubert Nowak, Paweł Rocławski, Paweł Stalmach, Paweł Wałdowski, Anna Banas and Karolina Makowska-Jarosik
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12491; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312491 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1134
Abstract
For many historic engineering structures, including early 20th-century truss bridges, no comprehensive technical documentation has survived, making them highly vulnerable to irreversible loss. This study addresses this challenge by developing and testing a non-invasive, UAV-based photogrammetric methodology for the comprehensive documentation of the [...] Read more.
For many historic engineering structures, including early 20th-century truss bridges, no comprehensive technical documentation has survived, making them highly vulnerable to irreversible loss. This study addresses this challenge by developing and testing a non-invasive, UAV-based photogrammetric methodology for the comprehensive documentation of the Niestępowo railway viaduct in Northern Poland. A dense geodetic control network was established using GNSS and total station measurements, providing a metrically verified reference framework for 3D reconstruction. Two photogrammetric software platforms—Bentley ContextCapture and Agisoft Metashape—were employed and comparatively evaluated in terms of processing workflow, accuracy, and model fidelity. To ensure methodological robustness, both tools were used for cross-validation of the generated 3D models and for the comparative assessment of their dimensional consistency against archival documentation. The results confirm that both platforms can produce highly accurate, photorealistic 3D models suitable for engineering inventory and heritage preservation, with Agisoft Metashape yielding slightly higher geometric precision, while Bentley ContextCapture ensured superior automation for large datasets. The generated 3D models reproduced details such as rivets, cracks, and corrosion marks with millimeter-level accuracy. The presented workflow demonstrates the potential of UAV photogrammetry as a reliable and scalable method for safeguarding cultural and technical heritage. By enabling the creation of metrically precise digital archives of historic bridges, the methodology supports future conservation, monitoring, and restoration efforts—preserving not only physical form but also the historical and engineering legacy of these structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural Heritage)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5061 KB  
Article
Real-Time Live Streaming Framework for Cultural Heritage Using Multi-Camera 3D Motion Capture and Virtual Avatars
by Minjoon Kim, Taemin Hwang and Jaehyuk So
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 12208; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152212208 - 18 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1772
Abstract
The preservation and digital transmission of cultural heritage have become increasingly vital in the era of immersive media. This study introduces a real-time framework for digitizing and animating traditional performing arts, with a focus on Korean traditional dance as a representative case study. [...] Read more.
The preservation and digital transmission of cultural heritage have become increasingly vital in the era of immersive media. This study introduces a real-time framework for digitizing and animating traditional performing arts, with a focus on Korean traditional dance as a representative case study. The proposed approach combines three core components: (1) high-fidelity 3D avatar creation through volumetric scanning of performers, costumes, and props; (2) real-time motion capture using multi-camera edge processing; and (3) motion-to-avatar animation that integrates skeletal mapping with physics-based simulation. By transmitting only essential motion keypoints from lightweight edge devices to a central server, the system enables bandwidth-efficient streaming while reconstructing expressive, lifelike 3D avatars. Experiments with eight performers and eight cameras achieved low latency (~200 ms) and minimal network load (<1 Mbps), successfully reproducing the esthetic qualities and embodied gestures of Korean traditional performances in a virtual environment. Beyond its technical contributions, this framework provides a novel pathway for the preservation, dissemination, and immersive re-experiencing of intangible cultural heritage, ensuring that the artistry of traditional dance can be sustained and appreciated in digital form. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural Heritage)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

51 pages, 41402 KB  
Article
A Digitally Enhanced Ethnography for Craft Action and Process Understanding
by Xenophon Zabulis, Partarakis Nikolaos, Vasiliki Manikaki, Ioanna Demeridou, Arnaud Dubois, Inés Moreno, Valentina Bartalesi, Nicolò Pratelli, Carlo Meghini, Sotiris Manitsaris and Gavriela Senteri
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5408; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105408 - 12 May 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4127
Abstract
Traditional ethnographic methods have long been employed to study craft practices, yet they often fall short of capturing the full depth of embodied knowledge, material interactions, and procedural workflows inherent in craftsmanship. This paper introduces a digitally enhanced ethnographic framework that integrates Motion [...] Read more.
Traditional ethnographic methods have long been employed to study craft practices, yet they often fall short of capturing the full depth of embodied knowledge, material interactions, and procedural workflows inherent in craftsmanship. This paper introduces a digitally enhanced ethnographic framework that integrates Motion Capture, 3D scanning, audiovisual documentation, and semantic knowledge representation to document both the tangible and dynamic aspects of craft processes. By distinguishing between endurant (tools, materials, objects) and perdurant (actions, events, transformations) entities, we propose a structured methodology for analyzing craft gestures, material behaviors, and production workflows. The study applies this proposed framework to eight European craft traditions—including glassblowing, tapestry weaving, woodcarving, porcelain pottery, marble carving, silversmithing, clay pottery, and textile weaving—demonstrating the adaptability of digital ethnographic tools across disciplines. Through a combination of multimodal data acquisition and expert-driven annotation, we present a comprehensive model for craft documentation that enhances the preservation, education, and analysis of artisanal knowledge. This research contributes to the ongoing evolution of ethnographic methods by bridging digital technology with Cultural Heritage studies, offering a robust framework for understanding the mechanics and meanings of craft practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Current Applications of 3D Information Technologies for Cultural Heritage)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop