Architectural heritage learning through virtual reality in museums

Abstract

Loss of world heritage sites due to massive earthquake, building erosion, human activity, natural disaster, et cetera has been central issues of cultural heritage sites preservation and documentation to safeguard these places of cultural importance for future generations. As such, many research and development projects using digital media, particularly using three-dimensional reconstruction, have been done to acquire and preserve the cultural information and architectural documentation of these heritage sites. However, little is found on disseminating these masterpieces using virtual reality technology for public knowledge and hence there is lacking of user evaluation being undertaken to gauge user responses in real-world use. The central aim of this thesis is to evaluate virtual reality for cultural heritage sites in real-world use. Thus, the objectives of this thesis are as follows: (i) to determine the user requirements of virtual reality for cultural heritage sites in real-world use, (ii) to design and develop a prototype of virtual reality application for cultural heritage sites, and (iii) to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed virtual reality application for cultural heritage sites in the context of Malaysian museums. This study adapts the Design Science Research Methodology, which emphasizes on the need for constructive research methods that allow the disciplined, rigorous and transparent building of a virtual reality application as outcomes and to distinguish the work from an ordinary practice of developing an application. According to user requirements gathered from expert interviews, a virtual reality prototype for architectural heritage was designed and developed. During the development stages, three exp~t reviews were conducted to inform the design. A functional virtual reality prototype was then evaluated by visitors in two museums and students in a laboratory setting. Data collection techniques include quasi-experiment, observation, and post-interview. Usability results were satisfactory for virtual reality, however, observation revealed visitors had difficulties in navigation using two input devices. Presence results were significant for field of view and sense of scale and factors contributing to presence were identified from user responses. For leamability, the user evaluation revealed that by using the virtual reality, visitors were able to capture architectural elements and social interaction that leads to meaning-making in museums has taken place. Comparisons between virtual reality and video and the Web were also discussed. User responses suggest that VR was preferred mainly due to its self-control navigational capabilities and its visual realism which both giving them sense of presence in that cultural heritage site. The thesis provides an empirical evidence of virtual reality in architectural heritage learning in terms of usability, presence, and learnability. Besides, this thesis has proven that virtual reality can technically preserve the architectural elements of a cultural heritage site. This thesis also provides lists of user requirements from perspectives of experts and the general public to assist future virtualreality_foLarchitecturaLheritageJearning development projects.