3D Content in Europeana: The Challenges of Providing Access

Europeana is an online platform that provides access to millions of items of digital content from Europe’s museums, galleries, libraries, archives and research institutions. Although 3D documentation has become more common in recent years, the majority of the content accessible via Europeana comprises of images and text documents. This chapter describes the context and general challenges of making 3D content accessible online, and the specific challenges for Europeana. The creation of highly accurate 3D models of monuments, buildings and museum objects has become more widespread in research, conservation, management and to provide access to heritage for education and tourism. Yet this is still a developing field and organisations that are commissioning 3D media need to make a series of choices on the type of content that is created, how it will be visualised online and for which users. The challenges of storing and providing access to this content include the multiplicity of content types and formats, the technology requirements and limitations faced by different audiences, and issues such as low standardisation, the complexity and volumes of data involved, interoperability, and lack of metadata. Working collaboratively in developing standards for 3D content formats and metadata will increase interoperability, improve access, storage and preservation of 3D media.