Karnataka to launch digital museums, do 3D mapping of 18K antiquities

This is the first time in the country that antiquities in government museums are being mapped in 3D on such a large scale.

Karnataka plans to launch digital museums for virtual walkthroughs after completing the 3D mapping of 530 protected heritage monuments in the state.

The Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) will do 3D mapping of around 18,000 antiquities, including coins, medals, and jewellery, displayed in 17 government museums.

The project, funded by the Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage (DAMH), is expected to be completed within two years.

“This is the first time in the country that antiquities in government museums are being mapped in 3D on such a large scale. We are the implementing agency, and DAMH is providing the financial support," UT Vijay, executive secretary, KSCST, told Moneycontrol.

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“People from any corner of the globe will be able to view key antiquities showcased in government museums through a virtual 3D experience. This will also boost virtual tourism.”

Vijay said the project would also help DAMH, which serves as the custodian of these museums, in restoration and reconstruction efforts.

“If any antiquities are damaged in the future, having digital data in custody will enable their reconstruction. The data will include precise geometric details down to the millimetre, unlike traditional paper maps. This digital information will last for hundreds of years, aiding both museum conservation and public engagement,” he said.

Under the Karnataka Digital Heritage project, KSCST, which comes under the department of science & technology, has already scanned 530 protected monuments in the state.

M Nagaraja Rao, project engineer at KSCST, said, “We are in the process of procuring handheld scanners. Since museums house small antiquities such as jewels and coins, specialised handheld scanners are necessary for precise scanning. We recently floated a tender, and we expect to begin the project within a month.”

There are around 18,000 antiquities, including statues and coins that need to be digitised. “We will use 3D laser scanners to generate 3D point cloud data, mesh models, and surface models with colour grading. These models will then be used for virtual walkthroughs of the museums,” he said.

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The project aims to collect data on antiquities, including size, inscriptions, and engravings, capture geographic locations using GPS, and record surface geometric details for 3D modelling. This will generate 3D point cloud data, mesh models, and CAD engineering drawings, enabling virtual immersive walkthroughs using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies.

The project also involves geo-tagging museum photographs and creating a database in a GIS environment to enhance public accessibility.

DAMH has also floated tenders for the upgrade, conservation and curation of the Government Museum in Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.