Five tools to enable use and reuse of 3D and digital cultural content
EUreka3D-XR is investigating the transformation of 2D and 3D digital cultural assets into XR scenarios, to support innovative reuse of those assets in services and products that appeal to end-users. The project is therefore addressing the needs of cultural heritage institutions (CHIs) in reusing their digital collections, thus leveraging the investment made in 2D and 3D digitisation, and in delivering innovative storytelling to their target communities. In this light, EUreka3D-XR is developing open source digital tools, including online services and mobile apps.
These tools address different aspects of content authoring, user interaction, and immersive experience delivery. While they are demonstrated through three distinct pilot scenarios, the tools themselves are designed to be generic and adaptable across a wide range of use cases. Their integration with the EUreka3D Data Hub ensures alignment with broader data infrastructures and contributes to long-term sustainability and interoperability.
EUreka3D-XR, five tools are being developed to enable the creation and delivery of engaging XR experiences using digital cultural heritage assets. These tools are:
AR Tour Builder
Online tool for creating custom AR tours, retrieving 3D objects from CH repositories such as Europeana and associating them with locations on a map
The AR Tour Builder, developed by NTUA, is an online tool designed to create and manage location-based augmented reality (AR) tours, which are delivered through the AR Tour Experience mobile application. Together, these two tools offer CHIs and other stakeholders a complete solution for authoring and deploying custom AR tours.
AR Tour Experience
Mobile app that allows visitors to experience phygital tours by superimposing 3D digital objects onto the physical world (AR) and providing other types of accompanying digital information
The AR Tour Experience, also developed by NTUA, complements the AR Tour Builder tool and serves the tours designed by the CH professionals to the on-site visitor. Through a clean and intuitive interface, visitors can browse and select tours available on their location based on their preferences.
AI 3D Builder
3D Modelling software pipeline based on AI and using digital photo archives
The AI 3D Builder is a semi-automated 3D modelling pipeline designed to generate high-quality 3D objects from photographic sources. Developed by Swing:It, the tool leverages artificial intelligence and photogrammetry techniques to convert 2D images, often sourced from digital photo archives, into clean, optimised 3D mesh models suitable for use in XR applications. The process is designed to be accessible to cultural heritage professionals who may not have prior experience in 3D modelling, lowering the barrier to entry for digitisation and reuse of heritage content.
3D XR Studio
Web tool for creating XR/AR experiences, also using a range of predefined layouts for UX and UI
The 3D XR Studio, developed by Swing:It, is a web-based authoring tool that enables users to create immersive XR and AR experiences by combining a variety of digital assets, such as 3D models, images, video, audio, and text. Designed with cultural heritage professionals in mind, the platform offers a user-friendly environment that requires no coding skills and focuses on visual storytelling, accessibility, and intuitive interaction. The tool features a flexible layout system based on predefined templates that support a range of narrative structures and interaction flows.
Avatar Builder
Reusable datasets and guidelines for creating virtual human characters in cultural heritage experiences
The Avatar Builder developed by MIRALab provides a structured methodology for creating animated virtual human characters both for web visualisation and for VR/MR storytelling. Rather than a software tool, it consists of a curated set of assets, guidelines, and best practices for using open-source tools to support the development of culturally and historically grounded avatars for immersive experiences. This workflow is demonstrated within the EUreka3D-XR project through the creation of virtual monks for the Saint Neophytos scenario.