Photogrammetry for Digitization and Digital Display as a Sustainable Way to Develop Vietnam’s Museum Sector?

Abstract

This paper explores how photogrammetry and free, open-source software can be used to sustainably develop museum sector capacity to digitize and publish Vietnam’s cultural heritage online. This approach was developed and applied during a digitization project as a solution to overcome challenges experienced in Vietnam concerning a lack of human, technical and financial resources. This paper draws on findings from a co-designed action research project between RMIT University Vietnam (RMIT) and the Vietnamese Women’s Museum (VWM) that developed an approach to create 3D (3 Dimensional) digital artifacts of their Betel Nut Collection using free, open-source software and applying the technique of photogrammetry. The aim was to co-design and co-produce a sustainable solution focused on readily available and easy-to-use digital technologies. However, not all artifacts could be digitized using this method, which sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of digitizing cultural heritage in the Global South. Overall, this sustainable approach can be applied by other museums and cultural institutions and can be a way to empower museums in the Global South to digitize and digitally display cultural heritage artifacts.