An Intellectual Journey in History: Preserving Indian Cultural Heritage
09 Sep 2013-pp 298-307
TL;DR: A multimedia ontology encoded in the Multimedia Web Ontology Language (MOWL) is used to illustrate this paradigm by correlating the digital artefacts with their history as well their living context in today's world.
Abstract: Heritage preservation requires preserving the tangibles (monuments, sculpture, coinage, etc) and the intangibles (history, traditions, stories, dance, etc). Besides these artefacts, there is a huge amount of background knowledge that correlates all these resources and establishes their context. In this work, we present a new paradigm for heritage preservation 'an Intellectual Journey into the past', which is more advanced than physical explorations of heritage sites and virtual explorations of monuments and museums. This paradigm proposes an experiential expedition into a historical era by using an ontology to inter-link the digital heritage artefacts with their background knowledge. A multimedia ontology encoded in the Multimedia Web Ontology Language (MOWL) is used to illustrate this paradigm by correlating the digital artefacts with their history as well their living context in today's world. The user experience of this paradigm involves a virtual traversal of a heritage site, with an ontology guided navigation through space and time and a dynamic display of different kinds of media.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a survey of heritage preservation in the Indian city of Surat, which reveals a myriad of challenges such as: inadequacy of urban conservation management policies and processes focused on heritage, absence of skills, training and resources amongst decision makers and persistent conflict and competition between heritage conservation needs and developers' interests.
Abstract: Currently, heritage is challenged in the Indian city of Surat due to diverse pressures, including rapid urbanization, increasing housing demand, and socio-cultural and climate changes. Where rapid demographic growth of urban areas is happening, heritage is disappearing at an alarming rate. Despite some efforts from the local government, urban cultural heritage is being neglected and historic buildings keep being replaced by ordinary concrete buildings at a worryingly rapid pace. Discussions of challenges and issues of Surat’s urban area is supported by a qualitative dataset, including in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups with local policy makers, planners, and heritage experts, triangulated by observation and a photo-survey of two historic areas. Findings from this study reveal a myriad of challenges such as: inadequacy of urban conservation management policies and processes focused on heritage, absence of skills, training, and resources amongst decision makers and persistent conflict and competition between heritage conservation needs and developers’ interests. Furthermore, the values and significance of Surat’s tangible and intangible heritage is not fully recognized by its citizens and heritage stakeholders. A crucial opportunity exists for Surat to maximize the potential of heritage and reinforce urban identity for its present and future generations. Surat’s context is representative of general trends and conservation challenges and therefore recommendations developed in this study hold the potential to offer interesting insights to the wider planners and conservationists’ international community. This paper recommends thoughtful integration of sustainable heritage urban conservation into local urban development frameworks and the establishment of approaches that recognize the plurality of heritage values.
36 citations
Cites background from "An Intellectual Journey in History:..."
...Few of the heritage experts and decision makers can use the digital technology [55] needed for restoration, and there is generally a lack of interest and awareness to learn these crucial skills [56,57]....
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TL;DR: This article analyses the concept of intangible/tangible heritage from a documentation perspective, investigating the theoretical framework developed within the various branches of the cultural heritage studies and providing a clear perspective, as well as an alignment, of the various approaches and requirements.
31 citations
Cites background from "An Intellectual Journey in History:..."
...Mallik et al. (2013, 2011) focused on the annotation of semantic features in MPEG video about Indian dance....
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TL;DR: In this article , a review of state-of-the-art models, projects, and technical practices that have advanced the digitization lifecycle for ICH resources is presented, identifying the advancements and gaps in the existing conventions, and to envision opportunities for transmitting embodied knowledge in intangible heritage.
Abstract: Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) as a field of research and site for digital efforts has grown significantly since the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage. In contrast to tangible heritage, where cultural identities are manifested through physical objects, intangible cultural expressions are defined through tacit reliances and embodied practices. Such practices are usually bodily communicated, enacted, socially transmitted, and constantly evolving. Burgeoning trends in computational heritage and ICT applications have played a crucial role in safeguarding ICH as they produce versatile resources while making them accessible to the public. Nevertheless, most of the inventions are object-centric and cater to conserving material-based knowledge bases. Few endeavors thus far have fully supported the recording, representing, and reviving of the living nature of ICH. One of the challenges now faced is to find appropriate forms, together with efficient methods, to document the ephemeral aspects of intangible heritage. Another barrier is to find effective ways to communicate the knowledge inextricably linked to people. In response, recent efforts have embarked on capturing the “live” and “active” facets of the embodied cultures, which entails addressing technological and curatorial complexity to communicate the material and immaterial aspects within a meaningful context. Meanwhile, advancements in experimental museology have opened up new modes of experiential narratives, particularly through visualization, augmentation, participation, and immersive embodiment. Novel practices of cultural data computation and data sculpting have also emerged toward the ideal of knowledge reconstruction. This article outlines state-of-the-art models, projects, and technical practices that have advanced the digitization lifecycle for ICH resources. The review focuses on several critical but less studied tasks within digital archiving, computational encoding, conceptual representation, and interactive engagement with the intangible cultural elements. We aim at identifying the advancements and gaps in the existing conventions, and to envision opportunities for transmitting embodied knowledge in intangible heritage.
11 citations
01 Jan 2019
TL;DR: This paper proposes a multimedia-driven disaster management ontology, featuring a different representation scheme integrating the multimedia content, which will offer semantic analysis and interoperability across heterogeneous multimedia data sources, hence facilitating in real-time disaster management.
Abstract: In the era of World Wide Web, dependency has been increasing on real-time response, communication, disaster preparedness, and analysis by our society, experts from different areas including paramedics, risk management team, police, and firefighters. To ensure real-time response, appropriate information retrieval, expediting undertaking and response preparation and handling communique with all involved parties, there is a requirement of digitizing the resources, concepts semantically along with exploiting the information embedded in multimedia content. We also know that ontology has been proven the excellent mean of digitization. So through this paper, we propose a multimedia-driven disaster management ontology, featuring a different representation scheme integrating the multimedia content. This will offer semantic analysis and interoperability across heterogeneous multimedia data sources, hence facilitating in real-time disaster management.
2 citations
References
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TL;DR: The efficacy of the ontology-based approach is demonstrated by constructing an ontology for the cultural heritage domain of Indian classical dance, and a browsing application is developed for semantic access to the heritage collection of Indian dance videos.
Abstract: Preservation of intangible cultural heritage, such as music and dance, requires encoding of background knowledge together with digitized records of the performances. We present an ontology-based approach for designing a cultural heritage repository for that purpose. Since dance and music are recorded in multimedia format, we use Multimedia Web Ontology Language (MOWL) to encode the domain knowledge. We propose an architectural framework that includes a method to construct the ontology with a labeled set of training data and use of the ontology to automatically annotate new instances of digital heritage artifacts. The annotations enable creation of a semantic navigation environment in a cultural heritage repository. We have demonstrated the efficacy of our approach by constructing an ontology for the cultural heritage domain of Indian classical dance, and have developed a browsing application for semantic access to the heritage collection of Indian dance videos.
66 citations
"An Intellectual Journey in History:..." refers background or methods in this paper
...In [7], authors had proposed an ontology-based scheme based on MOWL, for preserving the intangible heritage of Indian classical dance....
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...Techniques of annotation and concept recognition detailed in [7] have been reused here, but the interlinking of heritage artefacts across media formats using MPEG-7 based metadata, and the experiential exploration and browsing interface for historical narratives is a novel paradigm that we have introduced in this paper....
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01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: A new Bayesian Network based probabilistic reasoning framework with M-OWL for semantic interpretation of multimedia data and a new model for ontology integration, based on the similarity of the concepts in the media domain are proposed.
Abstract: An ontology designed for multimedia applications should enable integration of the conceptual and media spaces. We present M-OWL, a new ontology language, that supports this capability. M-OWL supports explicit definition of media properties for the concepts. The language has been defined as an extension of OWL, the standard ontology language for the web. We have proposed a new Bayesian Network based probabilistic reasoning framework with M-OWL for semantic interpretation of multimedia data. We have also proposed a new model for ontology integration, based on the similarity of the concepts in the media domain. It can be used to integrate several multimedia and traditional ontologies.
33 citations
"An Intellectual Journey in History:..." refers methods in this paper
...As MOWL representation allows collection-independent modelling of the domain, different kinds of media - images, text, video and audio can also be associated with the concepts, which aid in perceptual modelling of the concepts....
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...We have used the Multimedia Web Ontology Language (MOWL) [4] for representing the multimedia ontology used in our heritage experiments....
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...MM Retrieval through ontology-based interlinking Inputs: a) Search term set T or clicked image K. b) Bayesian Network Ω of the relevant MOWL ontology segment. c) Set X of MPEG-7 compatible XML files....
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...For our illustration, we have used a MOWL encoded Indian heritage ontology to associate media properties of the multimedia segments with ontology concepts....
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...In [7], authors had proposed an ontology-based scheme based on MOWL, for preserving the intangible heritage of Indian classical dance....
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TL;DR: A complete framework that is easy to use, does not require expensive custom equipment, and has been designed for helping archaeology researchers and educators reconstruct and analyze the historical context of cultural heritage objects.
Abstract: We present a framework for the digital exploration of cultural heritage objects. Today computing and information technology is pervasive and ubiquitous and has boosted at unprecedented levels, information diffusion and productivity. Such technology is today a ripe context for succinctly gathering knowledge by combining in innovative ways powerful visualization tactics, rapid access to a significant amount of relevant information, domain-specific knowledge, and rich and pervasive tools to sort, group, and slice the information and knowledge in different ways. To this end, we present a complete framework that is easy to use, does not require expensive custom equipment, and has been designed for helping archaeology researchers and educators reconstruct and analyze the historical context of cultural heritage objects. Our main inspiration is that archaeology today would benefit significantly from having spur-of-the-moment access to information from a variety of heterogeneous data sources and being able to have multiple participants visually observe factual and visual data in an intuitive and natural setting. While we present a framework geared towards archaeology, in the long term we envision reusing it in a variety of fields.Our framework includes data acquisition, data management, and data visualization components. The data acquisition component enables the fast, easy, and accurate addition of 3D object models and factual data, including narrations. The data management component includes a novel semantic database system that provides an intuitive view of the available contents in terms of an ontology, supports the addition of narrations, integrates data stored by other databases, and supports object retrieval, browsing, and knowledge navigation. The data visualization component provides visual feedback, which is a crucial part of an exploratory endeavor. It provides the ability to alter the appearance of archaeological objects, complete fragments of 3D object models, and several compelling forms of digital inspection and information visualization. All algorithms exploit knowledge from the database and from the obtained 3D models. Visuals can be applied on top of the physical object or on a 3D model shown in a traditional display, controllable via a Web page interface.
32 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: The Hampi-Vijayanagara Archeological Atlas Project as mentioned in this paper is an example of such a project, which is used by the World Heritage Area Management Authority of India (WHAIMA).
Abstract: PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SECTION I: HAMPI-VIJAYANAGARA 1. Vijayanagara Research: A Template for Interdisciplinary Scholarship on India by Carla Sinopoli 2. An Overview of Twenty-five Years of Archaeological Work at Hampi by M.S. Nagaraja Rao 3. The Hampi Archaeological Atlas Project by John M. Fritz 4. The Capital in Context: The Vijayanagara Metropolitan Survey by Kathleen D. Morrison 5. Scholarship and Discourse in Responsible Heritage Site Management, Case: Hampi by Nalini Thakur 6. Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority and the Implementation of the Integrated Management Plan for Hampi: Processes at the Ground Level by B. Sarath Chandra 7. Public-Private Partnership in Conservation Projects at Hampi by Abha Narain Lambah 8. The Earliest Photographs of Hampi: Lessons to be Learned by George Michell 9. Inscriptions Related to Monuments at Vijayanagara by S. Rajasekhara 10. Sculptures on the Great Platform at Vijayanagara by Anna L. Dallapiccola 11. Retrieving the Chalukyan Past at Sixteenth Century Vijayanagara: The Stepped Tank in the Royal Centre by Phillip B. Wagoner 12. The Sacred Topography of Hampi-Vijayanagara by Anila Verghese SECTION II: VIJAYANAGARA CITY AND EMPIRE 13. Power Relationships as Seen through Vijayanagara Era Temple Inscriptions by Alexandra Mack 15. Ramayana in Southern Indian Art: Themes and Variations by Anna L. Dallapiccola 16. The Chaturmukha Temples of Kanara: Architectural Assertions of Autonomy by John Henry Rice 19. Important Associations of Shaivite Ascetic Iconography between Srisailam, Hampi-Vijayanagara and Sringeri by Richard Shaw 20. In a Land of Kings: Donors, Elites and Temple Sculpture by Crispin Branfoot 21. Gandabherunda Images on Textiles and Monuments of South India by Brigitte Khan Majlis 22. Notes on Vijayanagara Painting by Anna L. Dallapiccola 23. Propaganda and Power: The Coinage of Vijayanagara Considered in Context by Barbara Mears
7 citations
"An Intellectual Journey in History:..." refers background in this paper
...We also collected facts and resources from books [8] written about Hampi and its art and archaeology....
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12 Dec 2010
TL;DR: Novel outdoor illumination constraints for resolving the foreground occlusion problem in outdoor environment for the outdoor gallery system are proposed and can be also integrated into a probabilistic model of multiple cues for a better segmentation of the foreground.
Abstract: We have been developing an outdoor gallery system in Asukakyo. Asukakyo is one of the ancient capitals, which is well-known to has lots of temples, palaces and buildings. Nevertheless, most of the assets have been deteriorated after more than fourteen centuries. The outdoor gallery system introduces the virtual appearance of ancient Asukakyo to visitors at the original site with the help of Mixed Reality (MR). To reconstruct the virtual Asukakyo in the outdoor gallery system, it is necessary to handle occlusion problem in synthesizing virtual objects correctly into the real scene with respect to existing foregrounds and shadows. Furthermore, outdoor environment makes the task more difficult due to the unpredictable illumination changes. This paper proposes novel outdoor illumination constraints for resolving the foreground occlusion problem in outdoor environment for the outdoor gallery system. The constraints can be also integrated into a probabilistic model of multiple cues for a better segmentation of the foreground. In addition, we introduce an effective method to resolve the shadow occlusion problem by using shadow detection and recasting with a spherical vision camera. We have applied the method in our outdoor gallery system in Asukakyo and verified the effectiveness of the method.
6 citations
"An Intellectual Journey in History:..." refers background in this paper
...Other related works in cultural heritage preservation like [5] make use of augmented and virtual reality, but fail to present artefacts in context with background knowledge....
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