Archiving the Third Dimension: Production, Maintenance and Use of 3D Models in Cultural Heritage Management

In 2017, the Archaeology Department of the Canton Zurich defined photogrammetry in Agisoft Metashape as a new standard. The years have shown the advantages of the method, especially when documenting complex 3D structures, like skeletons or ruins, on site. While generating 3D models was a well-trodden path, the storage of 3D models needed some exploration. The first challenge was to incorporate 3D data into a pre-existing archive system. The second challenge was to secure both easy access for everyone and long-term storage at the same time. We propose a solution where access and storage are treated as two separate issues. This allows the content to be viewed without technological restrictions (e.g. as 3D PDF or VR application). While independently the same models are stored in a normalised geometry file (e.g. OBJ file) for long term use. Since long-term standards for 3D data have yet to be established, we have decided to provide a temporary backup system by keeping the raw data (photos) together with the processing report for replication purposes. Our solution comes with a lot of redundancy. However, this is still a trial and error approach, one that we would like to work on with fellow 3D enthusiasts.