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Future of Cultural Preservation: 3D Printing

Writer's picture: PreserSafePreserSafe

3D Printing: A vastly transformative manner to enhance cultural protection

Protecting cultural heritage in urban situations has become a major challenge in an age distinguished by ever faster technical progresses. 3D Printing technology, known as the Shape may in the future take us one step closer to solution. Shape is a one-year project using 3D printing technology to change the way we map and share urban memory. An efficient way to safeguard priceless cultural assets, this strategy also further engenders a sense of ownership and understanding about one's urban heritage among both city dwellers and visitors alike with accurate replicas focusing on preserving artifacts or the likes of historic facades.

 

A campaign educating designers about the opposition of 3D printing or additive manufacturing that is similar conceptually to plasma cutting, however, for a substance in liquid form instead. It works by using materials that are often plastics (but can also be metal) and thus, it can create more intricate and complex shapes or structures that might not be physically possible or very difficult and time-consuming with other means of traditional manufacturing. The technology has transformed industries as diverse as architecture and cultural relic into a more affordable way of creating objects specially.

 

Though the basic idea for 3D printing can be traced all the way back to the early 1980s, when Dr. Hideo Kodama of Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute attempted to build a rapid prototyping system. Charles Hull only patented the stereolithography (SLA) process from which 3D printer technology would evolve in 1986. Advancements in material and printing technologies have helped grow 3D printing WAY beyond what was original capabilities.

 

3D printing technology has been studied to improve its material characteristics, speed of printing and precision etc. The possibilities of 3D printing are being taken to the limits by amazing breakthroughs such as multi-material prints, bio-printing and eco-friendly/biodegradable print materials to name a few. Moreover, the open-source printing technology trend led to it becoming accessible. This makes 3D printing available to the variety of people and institutions to apply this kind of technology — all are even keen on cultural heritage preservation.

 

Shape technology is now being wisely applied to conservation of cultural heritage. When it comes to preserving artifacts, sculptures and even historical sites the ability to create precise copies can save original pieces from being damaged. The replicas are suitable for exhibition in museums and as educational material, providing an opportunity to reach a broader public without risking any original artefacts.

 

Now the Smithsonian Institution in the U.S. has also adopted 3D-printing to capture detailed digital and physical copies of its vast array of artifacts. This endeavor will serve to safeguard the authenticity of the original artifacts and also provide a sense of interactivity and exploration for visitors. The Smithsonian's Digitization Program Office, for instance, has been able to 3D scan and then print models of things such as the Wright brothers' first plane and ancient bones… making them available on places like Thing verse.

 

For instance, the British Museum uses 3D printing technology to improve its conservation work. The museum will then be able to replicate scans of highly detailed artifacts and print them in 3D, for close study or restoration without the need to touch the originals. In addition, the British Museum collaborated with partner institutions from across the globe allowed for replicas of 3D printed objects to travel globally encouraging international cultural interchange and learning.

 

Spatial computing Shape technology can shape the future of cultural preservation by giving us interactive and immersive experiences with digital archives. If incorporated with 3D printed replicas, Augmented Reality in combination with Virtual Reality can provide visitors with a comprehensive view of historical perspective and cultural relevance. Material science could also improve the quality and appearance of replicas, long enough to even notionally help preserve the cultural heritage.

 

3D printing can be used by colleges to deliver hands-on learning opportunities for students. Printing exact replicas of historical artifacts and architectural models give them a physical touch with the past as it provides a wider audience access to culture and history. Finally, as online platforms and open-source repositories of 3D printable models become more widespread, this technology has the potential to level the playing field in terms of access to cultural education across students from all parts of the globe.

 

Selectively, 3D printing technology — or Shape/model 3D print — is seen as a breakthrough in the conservation and access to cultural heritage. By virtue of creating faithful replicas of cultural artifacts, incorporating them into interactive experiences in Shape effectively not only aids our preservation efforts but also enhances the knowledge and appreciation of these objects. The future of cultural preservation is enormous with Shape, and as technology progresses shape can become a tidal wave of purity that sweeps through the desolate shore of our cultural legacy leaving an ocean of accessible culture.

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