Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MNEMOSYNE (EU ERA Chair in Digital Cultural Heritage: Mnemosyne)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-04-01 bis 2021-12-31
Cultural Heritage is a strategic resource for Europe with high cultural, social, environmental an d economic value. The era of Digital Cultural Heritage (DCH) is now well underway and the European research resource for DCH has grown significantly in recent years. But the visible contribution of the so-called Widening countries to this effort remains relatively weak. The Digital Heritage Research Laboratory (DHRLab) at Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) has been an exception in this respect, becoming a beacon in the Eastern Mediterranean and for Europe in general, in particular through its leadership of key initiatives in DCH research training and in policy co-ordination and support.
While the Cypriot economy gradually recovers, in order to maintain and expand its leading role in DCH research, DHRLab needs further investment. The ERA Chairs grant is an ideal opportunity to ensure this by means of a well-designed and iterative process of strengthening its research capacity and restructuring of its role.
CUT hired during the first year of the Mnemosyne project, an outstanding scientist and research manager as ERA Chair holder, who managed to attract and maintain high quality human resources and proposed the necessary structural changes to achieve excellence on a sustainable basis in this particular domain.
The main research challenges, which have been analysed in D3.3 cover a lifecycle of DCH facets including those concerning:
1. Data acquisition and the corresponding quality of para-/metadata and data (tangible and intangible / storytelling and untold stories)
2. Data processing (enrichment of metadata, symantics, ontologies)
3. Modelling for 2D and 3D (BIM, HBIM, HHBIM) and linked Data.
4. Knowledge management (interpretation)
5. Long Term e-Preservation
6. Use and re-use of data/knowledge and its interpretation.
While the Cypriot economy gradually recovers, in order to maintain and expand its leading role in DCH research, DHRLab needs further investment. The ERA Chairs grant is an ideal opportunity to ensure this by means of a well-designed and iterative process of strengthening its research capacity and restructuring of its role.
CUT hired during the first year of the Mnemosyne project, an outstanding scientist and research manager as ERA Chair holder, who managed to attract and maintain high quality human resources and proposed the necessary structural changes to achieve excellence on a sustainable basis in this particular domain.
The main research challenges, which have been analysed in D3.3 cover a lifecycle of DCH facets including those concerning:
1. Data acquisition and the corresponding quality of para-/metadata and data (tangible and intangible / storytelling and untold stories)
2. Data processing (enrichment of metadata, symantics, ontologies)
3. Modelling for 2D and 3D (BIM, HBIM, HHBIM) and linked Data.
4. Knowledge management (interpretation)
5. Long Term e-Preservation
6. Use and re-use of data/knowledge and its interpretation.
During the first three years, the Mnemosyne project was engaged by preparing carefully the data management plan, the project’s unique research agenda in Digital Cultural Heritage, the recruitment plan for the ERA Chair Holder and the nine (9) fellows, as well as the design of the structural changes to apply at the Cyprus University of Technology. The start of the COVID19 pandemic found the project in a situation where the recruited fellows had to work for several months from their homes in the their countries of origin. After four months it was possible for the fellows to travel to Cyprus and start their integration in the country, city and host institution. The continues lock downs and shut-downs at the hosting country made the life of the fellows as well as the progress of the project extremely difficult.
However, despite the different challenges the project managed to process according to the agenda in DoA with minor delays. The set goals for the structural changes, the research agenda, the national and international networking and dissemination were achieved. These activities enabled the project to build good communications amongst the local, regional, international and partner networks.
At the moment the project is moving forward with the Chair holder and only two fellows in place. Therefore, a discussion with the PO is necessary so that we can find a solution for the extension of the duration of the project and give another chance to hire the rest of missing team members
However, despite the different challenges the project managed to process according to the agenda in DoA with minor delays. The set goals for the structural changes, the research agenda, the national and international networking and dissemination were achieved. These activities enabled the project to build good communications amongst the local, regional, international and partner networks.
At the moment the project is moving forward with the Chair holder and only two fellows in place. Therefore, a discussion with the PO is necessary so that we can find a solution for the extension of the duration of the project and give another chance to hire the rest of missing team members
The project will be carried out over a period of 2 years. Following the recruitment of the ERA Chair Research Team, a three-phase research programme focused on holistic documentation of the DCH lifecycle in support of existing and potential user needs was established and carried out, with strong attention paid to exploitation. In cooperation with our very active and wide network (UNESCO, ICOMOS, Europa-Nostra, EMA, NEMO, DARIAH-ERIC, CLARIN-ERIC, Photoconsortium, Michael-Culture association, Carare association, etc - EuroMed2020 conference) communication activities have been strategically planned and refined from the outset of the work and will last throughout the project duration.
Mnemosyne will create a holistic framework for DCH by carrying out the wide range of collaborative and multidisciplinary research needed within an overall construct of advanced 3D documentation in Cultural Heritage (3D + Memory). Particular emphasis will be given to the Knowledge management on the holistic approach of Cultural Heritage( Memory, Story, Identity and to the question on how we document the outstanding and universal value of an object such as a monument).
Mnemosyne will create a holistic framework for DCH by carrying out the wide range of collaborative and multidisciplinary research needed within an overall construct of advanced 3D documentation in Cultural Heritage (3D + Memory). Particular emphasis will be given to the Knowledge management on the holistic approach of Cultural Heritage( Memory, Story, Identity and to the question on how we document the outstanding and universal value of an object such as a monument).