4.3 Viewing 3D Models

4.3.1 3D Viewers and Repositories
3DHOP

Different 3DHOP implementations, raging from simple 3D viewers to hotspots and interactive manipulations of model elements (click to enlarge the figure)
Several commercial and free/open-source viewers and platforms have been developed for sharing 3D models online. The most well-known application for cultural heritage is the 3D Heritage Online presenter, known as 3DHOP. It is an open-source software package developed by the Visual Computing Laboratory - ISTI - CNR that allows the creation of interactive presentations for 3D models on a standard web page by adding HTML and Javascript components in the HTML code. The presentation of the 3D models can range from a simple setup where the models can be interactively observed (zoom in/out, rotate, light control), to more advanced applications including clickable annotations (hotspots), animations,  embedded resources, and the interactive manipulation of model components (see links to projects below). Although 3DHOP requires some basic programming skills (HTML and Java), the platform provides detailed guidelines that can be used by novice users to setup a 3DHOP instance on a local server and produce a basic 3D viewing scenario. However, more advanced functionalities (that are more user friendly in commercial platforms), a higher level of digital competency for their implementation. It is worth noting, however, that contrary to commercial/ for profit platforms in which the 3D models have to be uploaded to the cloud service of a company, 3DHOP developers just need to upload the models to a local server (e.g. the serve that a cultural heritage institution is using for their website). Therefore, any rights over the models remain with the individuals.

Visual Media Service

The Interface of Visual Media Service and some examples of the uploaded files. Right: 3D model and RTI Normals Visualisation (click to enlarge the figure)
Visual Media Service, a platform also developed by the Visual Computing Laboratory - ISTI - CNR as part of Ariadne Project provides the opportunity to users to publish large visual data on the Web in order to more efficiently share their work with colleagues and better enable collaborative work. These are not only limited to 3D models, but can also include Reflectance Transformation Imaging datasets, large images, and image sets. The platform employs some basic functionalities of 3DHOP, however, it does not include all the different implementations that can be achieved by using 3DHOP as a standalone software. You should note, however, that Visual Media Service is not intended to be used as a repository for large quantities of work. 

Several browser-based apps have been developed in the last few years that allow users to view and share 3D files without using the software in which the 3D model was designed. These include software such as the Online 3D Viewer, P3D.in, and Creators3D. It is out of the scope of this unit to discuss all the different 3D viewers available, since most of them were not developed to serve the needs of cultural heritage specialists. However, one of them, Sketchfab, which is both a viewer and a repository has been gaining traction both in the world of 3D modellers as well as in cultural heritage institutions.

British Museum

The British Museum Channel of Sketchfab (click to enlarge the figure)

Sketchfab is a commercial platform, which does not require coding skills to upload or manipulate the 3D models. Although it has less flexibility in comparison to 3DHOP, it allows annotation in the form of text or sound, different rendering modes, canvas personalisation, a stereoscopic (Virtual Reality) mode, as well as comments by other Sketchfab users. After realising the need in the heritage sector for a service which could be used by novices to upload, share, and store 3D models, the company established a cultural heritage department, hiring Thomas Flynn, originally a Sketchfab community member that had an instrumental role in communicating the power of 3D for cultural heritage. it is worth noting, that although Sketchfab is a for profit platform, it offers free premium accounts for cultural heritage institutions. Major institutions and heritage projects, such as the British Museum, the University of South Florida Libraries, Historic Environment Scotland, Iconem, Micropasts, and the Discovery Programme, all have their own channels on Sketchfab, using it as the main platform for publishing and sharing online the 3D models they produce. it is also worth noting that many of these models can only be downloaded for non-commercial uses (e.g. 3D printed, embedded in games or other applications etc.)



Further Readings/Additional Resources 


Links to 3DHOP Projects


Links to Sketchfab Cultural Heritage Projects