"ARCHERR A system for architectural heritage data referencing and archiving"

Supervised by S.Maddock

Abstract

Architectural heritage databases around the world, currently use the age old proven method of orthographic projections for documenting the dimensional data of any architectural heritage sites. Orthographic projections are derived from site surveys and incorporate all possible dimensions such that this data could be referred for later reconstruction. Architectural heritage conservationists, unfortunately, also need to refer to other information such as the historical and cultural background, age of structure, materials used, for various purposes like restoration, reconstruction etc. This information is not associated along with the orthographic projections. Thus essential diverse data naturally tends to be stored without any or with little reference to the orthographic projections.

This research was an attempt to develop a new method of referencing and archiving all the related information on any architectural heritage structure, regardless of formats, specifically for architectural heritage conservationists, researchers and re-constructors, using available technologies in new media and virtual reality. The Sheffield University's St. George's Church flats, was used as an example heritage structure to create the new type of database and demonstrate the referencing and archiving technique. A user-friendly interface was developed to refer to this archived and cross-referenced data. Usability tests conducted by postgraduate students from architecture and archaeology generated positive responses.