Dive into Heritage is creating an innovative online platform that leverages digital technologies to safeguard and promote World Heritage sites and its related intangible heritage, and transmit it to future generations.
Generously funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dive into Heritage is an online platform that uses cutting-the-edge digital technologies to offer a unique and immersive experience of World Heritage and its related intangible heritage.
The platform enables users to explore heritage sites through free, interactive and guided experiences using 3D models, geolocated narratives, and other media images and videos.
It also aims to serve as a useful tool for sites monitoring and conservation, offering added value to the existing monitoring mechanisms of the World Heritage Convention.
Project Achievements
Innovative
digital platform
Created an innovative digital platform that brings World Heritage sites to life through 3D models and immersive digital storytelling.Legal
Framework
Created a Legal Framework for data ownership and copyright protection, to be able to collect and use data with different types of data owners.
Capacity building programme
Launched a comprehensive capacity building programme for site managers, emerging professionals and youth to train on digital documentation of heritage, as well as the techniques for data processing and optimisation. Over 100 professionals were trained during Phase I.International Standards, Guidelines and Criteria
Established International Standards, Guidelines and Criteria for digital heritage documentation, to ensure coherence in data structure, optimize the workflow for digital data acquisition, and adapt content for a more interactive and accessible online platform.The Platform
The Dive into Heritage Platform enables users to explore heritage sites through interactive and guided narrative storytelling experiences, free interactive exploration of World Heritage Sites, as well as explore the existing links with Intangible Cultural Heritage elements.
Guided Narratives
For each of the available World Heritage sites on the platform, digital storytelling narratives have been created. Each experience guides the user through an interactive multimedia experience, explaining the story of the site while highlighting different themes relating to the site’s Outstanding Universal Value.
Free Exploration
of World Heritage Sites
The users can also explore and interact with the 3D models and objects that have been digitized, to gain a better understanding of the site, its components and layout.
Strengthened synergies with Intangible Cultural Heritage
The platform also aims to highlight the synergies with intangible cultural heritage by connecting the elements inscribed on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with concerned sites available on the platform.
Capacity Building
Training site managers and emerging professionals has been a key component of the Dive into Heritage project. Through this initiative, UNESCO established a dedicated capacity building programme on digital documentation and data processing, implemented through capacity building workshops that have enrolled over 100 participants to date.
Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ)
Saudi Arabia
Bahla Fort
Oman
Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur
Egypt
Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe
Sudan
International Standards for digital Data Collection
There are a large number of international standards recognized in the field of digital heritage documentation globally. The Dive into Heritage Guidelines, streamline the digital workflow including the methodology for data acquisition during field work and optimization and allow for a more consistent display of digital assets on the platform.
Consistency
guaranteeing consistent and high-quality data
Sustainability
long-term sustainability and preservation of digital data
Scalability
future-proofing by building in adaptability and scalability as technology evolves
Legal Framework
The project also created two different documents, providing a legal framework to be able to acquire, share, and use collected data or data provided by different data owners. These documents outline a framework though which the data ownership, usage, and copyright protection are clearly defined.
The first document is that of Digital Data access and use agreements, through which the project can acquire existing data while defining its uses and protections with the data owner(s).
The second is the collaboration agreement, typically used when UNESCO or UNESCO experts are conducting the data collection mission, as this defines data sharing and ownership between UNESCO and the different States Parties or expert(s) involved.
Digital data access
and use agreement
for World Heritage Sites
Collaboration agreement
on digital data
for World Heritage Sites
Communication Milestones
Since the beginning of the project, major events showcasing the projects and its results have been organised, each marking significant milestones. These event were accompanied with immersive exhibitions to highlight the project’s achievements.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Project contributes to the implementation of UNESCO’s Programme and Budget, particularly Major Programme IV and its Outputs; CLT.1 Member States capacities strengthened to identify, protect and manage tangible heritage in particular through the effective implementation of the 1972 Convention and CLT.4 Member States and communities capacities strengthened to identify, safeguard and promote living heritage in particular through the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention. Dive into Heritage also contributes to the achievement of the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets.
SDG 4 : Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Target 4.7: By 2030 ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and preserve the world's cultural and natural heritage
SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Target 17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation
With the generous support of
Partners
Governmental and/or Institutional Partners
Platform Development
Industry and Documentation Missions
4 Quality Education
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
17 Partnerships for the Goals
