DEVELOPMENT OF AN ONLINE E-LEARNING APPLICATION IN AN INTERACTIVE SYSTEM FOR COMPLEX MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES
Polytechnic University of Bucharest (ROMANIA)
About this paper:
Conference name: 9th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 14-16 November, 2016
Location: Seville, Spain
Abstract:
Information Technology can help to manage cultural heritage material, when it comes to historical, architectural, archaeological and natural sites. The management application focuses on studying historical sites with heritage buildings (objectives) to create an interactive learning application as part of a management system for historical sites, useful for experts and students. The starting point is an application developed for the Roşia Montană historical site (UNESCO World Heritage attending list), developing an evolved version of this system with a high degree of generality, dynamic, versatile and flexible, easily adapted to a powerful template tool for any historical site.
The concept presented in this paper has four levels:
1. The application database. Storage and sorting of information occurs within a database, and through the complex interface with multiple access levels (administrator, expert, user) it interacts with the database objective sheets. Any file registered in the system is a database sheet using a standard format, specified by the National Heritage Institute, containing the complete package of information relating to the objective features and characteristics.
2. The application geodynamic multilayer map. The management system creates necessary filters to browse easily the application and outline the objectives in a complex geospatial module. The homogeneity degree drawn from the study on regional levels with common features is taken into account. The geodynamic map is implemented using Google Maps, with all the functionalities provided. The multilayer feature of the map allows users to get visual representation of the historical site evolution during the centuries. It implements a tool for highlighting action priorities for restoration and necessary resources involved, based on the corresponding target conservation status of the target sheet in the database.
3. The application multiple interface. The administrator, expert and user interfaces, along with the necessary bonds needed to integrate the distributed database and the geodynamical multilayer map, apply separate functionalities for a fluid workflow. The process of designing and developing a dynamic interface have advanced options of viewing, adding and modifying standardized sheets, created at a certain place, based on the coordinates extracted from the map.
4. The connection with the mobile applications. The management system is connected both ways to mobile applications. Java programming language is used to develop the application and it is adapted to any mobile platform (iOS, Android, Windows). Users can interact with the application both ways: input and output.
- Input: a QR code associated to the expertise objective is generated in order to create the ability to print the corresponding QR code label to be displayed in situ.
- Output: regular users placed in situ can transmit information helping to update the database content (modifications in the conservation status, recent photos, etc.) so that the remote experts get valuable updates to be validated.
The application is web-responsive and could be accessed from any device: desktop, portable or mobile. The project involves hardware infrastructure and IT technologies & services. The cultural mapping module connects the application to social media. In the future, a 3D modeling of the most important objectives with high heritage value can be achieved, adding the flexibility and adaptability features.Keywords:
Historical sites, Restoration, Managements systems, Online web applications, Databases, Interfaces, Internet Programming, Interactive software tools.