UCL Qatar has unveiled its inaugural exhibition entitled 3D Encounters: Where Science Meets Heritage, allowing public access to cutting edge 3D scanning technology of ancient artefacts for the first time.

The exhibition explores how 3D digital replicas of museum collections can be used to advance museum, archaeological and conservation practice. Using 3D visualisations of artefacts from UCL Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London, the exhibition offers a 360 degree view of ancient items that range from fragments of stone vessels and carved wooden hair combs to a skull on an ancient Egyptian ruler.

With the support of its commercial partner, Arius3D, UCL has helped improve the way 3D laser scanning technology can replicate heritage materials as well as develop end-user applications using 3D images. This exhibition presents these prototype applications to the public for the first time.

At the exhibition visitors can try out the 3D technology themselves and handle virtual images of historical treasures. The public are invited to do this through a series of interactive activities that combine 3D images with immersive technologies such as heightened reality and gesture recognition. For example, one interactive visualisation transports visitors to an archaeological site in Egypt where they are able to select 3D replica artefacts to pick up and inspect.

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar