Virtual Reality of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-Feed Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo

Lead Research Organisation: University of Wolverhampton
Department Name: Faculty of Science & Engineering

Abstract

Theme: "The Digital World: Opportunities and Challenges".

Iconic heritage is globally threatened by terror, climate change, rampant commercialisation, and overexploitation by tourism; and in the case of Egypt, significant disinvestment. Lack of responsible planning, maintenance and preservation strategies have equally caused unmitigated dereliction and irreversible damage to many heritage sites and cultural traditions in the medieval city in Cairo. Instability across the MENA region has prompted calls for the protection of culture and archaeological heritage as a political, economic and global challenge. With the increasing rate of destruction of heritage sites, digital preservation of historic artefacts and cultural heritage has arisen as an international priority. With tourism industry contributing 11% to Egypt's GDP and Non-governmental organisations, charity foundations and private sector enterprises are dramatically growing, technical and community support to this industry has become at the forefront of sustainable economy and social welfare of local populations. Yet, there are strategies, practices, skills and technologies that can protect, develop and sustain these places, in other forms of reproduction; such as digital modelling, immersive virtual and augmented reality, and cinematography and Audio-visual archives.

Digitisation of heritage through customs, photo archives, film footage, oral history documentaries has become central for the preservation of national identity and effective tool in strategies of undermining radical ideologies in marginalised communities. The use of online platforms, virtual exhibitions and digitization of heritage is ever increasing and the virtual reality models of historic sites are becoming a main tool to engage with distant and remote heritage locations, yet stretch audience outreach and contribute to online income generating activities. Virtual environments which embed cultural heritage through digital media are often categorized as 'virtual heritage'. Such new media and technology platforms offer the possibility to experience virtually reconstructed historic sites or heritage sites as visitors, travellers or even as a resident.

The proposed Cultural-feed Virtual Heritage CfVH collaborative network will develop projects, forums of exchange and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on Imaging Cultural heritage in virtual environments. It will support young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism on the advantages and reward of engaging with digital platforms of virtual heritage. This project aims to help participants, academic and none-academic, to take part in the development, design and planning of virtual heritage platforms using latest technology (CAVE & Virtual HoloDeck) and develop practice-led workshops.

Young professionals and graduates will acquire creative and technical skills that support self-development as entrepreneurs and offer venues for networking with UK-based experts and researchers. The collaboration is designed to train a catalyst group of 30-40 Egyptians to acquire, learn, practice and promote the digital production of Virtual heritage and support their future research projects of cultural and archaeological heritage, both in Egypt and in the UK. Participants will be trained for an average of 60-80 hours on research, production and business planning to help develop private enterprises and engage with local communities and school children. The collaborative network anticipates supporting 4-6 start-ups and research projects in the two years following its conclusion and will initiate graduate courses in Heritage Digitisation at Egyptian Universities and at the University of Wolverhampton with prospected 60-80 graduates over 5 years.

Planned Impact

The proposed collaborative network is designed to bridge the disparate arenas of research, creative industry, skill training, and job creation in Egypt that responds to future and growing needs of technology-driven generations. It anticipates raising the awareness of new technologies and accessible online markets for innovative research while supporting heritage preservation, not only in Egypt, but in the Middle East. The proposed programme will be the first platform and collaborative activities of its kind in the region that intends to attract researchers of digital heritage and supplements international organisations such as, UNDP, UN-Habitat and UNESCO with innovative tools and skilled researchers. Participants can contribute to the production of digital records, archives and virtual reality media that are increasingly used to support evidence-based findings and recommendations for action.

This Network links innovative heritage research to digital modelling, virtual and augmented reality platforms, and online markets as a chain of supply and demand, which further supports wide range of smart and digital applications and industries. This collaboration identifies, through research in digital recording and VR modelling, filmmaking and visualisation of cultural heritage, new territories for research, studies, courses and online markets, yet to be unravelled in Egypt and the region. Association with Hi-Tec Industry, research institutions and VR laboratories in the UK will offer long term support for private sector start-ups and SMEs what would shift research landscape in Egypt towards more applied and practice-led research.

The chief impact of this Network lies in its interactive and productive collaboration between Researchers and entrepreneurs, scholars and professionals, social scientists and digital technology engineers with shared interests in virtual and digital heritage preservation. Hence, the list of beneficiaries could be drawn through those involved in the programmes of training, knowledge-transfer and specialist entrepreneur career pathways. This project will influence early career researchers and produce educational material and case study models on the production of virtual reality models, cultural heritage digitization that would be a career for new generations of Egyptian graduates in different disciplines. This will deliver an impact on the long-term national agenda of countering radicalization of marginalised communities through creative education and sustainable urban development.
 
Title HeritageCAVE@NTU: 5D Virtual Heritage Innovations and Practices 
Description For effective engagement with learning experiences and studies of ancient cultures or to grasp the implications of their evidence, it has become essential to introduce an interactive approach in 3D platforms to engage with its architectural evidence and urban fabric. Due to advanced computer hardware and high-end graphics cards, trends in virtual reality applications are motivated towards the use of immersive technology for real-time interaction with high detail. Virtual, visual and digital display of lost heritage has inherent values in both the tourism industry and the education process for students in pre-university as well as graduate education. It transfers theoretical courses of archaeology and conservation into real simulations of narratives and historical atmosphere. This Exhibition was designed to present a series of interdisciplinary and innovative projects on centred on communicating cultural heritage, (tangible, intangible and built) through engaging digital and virtual heritage experiences. Not only these displays, would produce visual outputs, digital and online applications, but more critically engaging socio-cultural heritage of societies, their histories, narratives and sensory experiences. By 5D, we introduced a demonstration of how different disciplines, researchers and technologies could be employed coherently to showcase how Medieval histories and cultural heritage could be scientifically analyses and validated to verify novel means of engaging public audience and young people in understanding and appreciating technological applications for heritage documentation, recording and preservation. This exhibition provided a series of displays of Research-led Innovations and project outputs of recent Virtual Heritage applications, technologies and case studies that took place at the Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage at Nottingham Trent University. This exhibition is curated in collaboration with The University or Leeds and will display projects and output that have been developed in collaboration with Virtual Heritage Cairo Network, the British Geological Survey, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Castle Trust, National Justice Museum (United Kingdom), Baghdad Mayoralty (Iraq), the National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics (Egypt), amongst others. This exhibition is curated and organised by the Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage, Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem (PI) and the Global Heritage Research Theme, at Nottingham Trent University. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The Exhibition was the first to display our research innovations in the US huge audience in digital heritage from across the globe. The Exhibition was successful and managed to introduce our work to Google Culture team, who were our co-exhibitors. Further collaborations and partnerships emerged from this exhibition that informed later work and collaborations. 
URL https://digitalheritage2018.sched.com/exhibitor/heritagecaventu_5d_virtual_heritage_inno.1ymmwtt7
 
Title Lace Market Heritage & Architectural History; St Mary's Church, Nottingham; Public Exhibition (Sep-Nov 2019). 
Description Lace Market Heritage & Architectural History; St Mary's Church, Nottingham; Public Exhibition (Sep-Nov 2019). The work creative and curated in this exhibition was the development of the same approach in developing virtual heritage displays of heritage buildings supported by social history. In this work it was in Nottingham's Lace Market. This is a two months-long exhibition that was open to the public in Nottingham where a vast array of creative digital and historic record of the City's heritage was on display. It was curated through creative production of digital and physical visualisation of the architectural and social history of the Lace Market and how it contributed to the development of the city and its socio-economic landscape. The exhibition included a large scale model of the Lace Market, with a lot of 3D printed architectural components and supported with boards of individual buildings histories and narratives. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact This exhibition was hugely successful and led to more demands on the exhibition to be on display on a number of other locations including a further exhibition at Nottingham Castle that is scheduled for late 2021. A Film production and book is currently under development to Brighton the exhibition to full display. 
URL https://museumsofthefuture.com/exhibits
 
Title STRATA: Layered Histories, Imagined Futures 
Description This exhibition reveals the hidden histories of towns, cities and landscapes, and within them the stories of people and communities - how they have lived over the decades, centuries and millennia. Based on the ongoing research of NTU's Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage, led by Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem, STRATA Exhibition made full use of creative art and digital technologies to dig deep into the layers of history found in the built environment. The Exhibition covers three key areas: First: The life and times of the Lace Market - a thriving, ever-changing area in Nottingham city centre. It showcased a Thousand Years of historic evolution and attachment between people's histories and their architecture. Second: Travelling through space and time to 840 BCE Egypt and the wonders of the Hawara Pyramid and its labyrinthine complex. Scans and surveys conducted over recent years have charted the original layout of this ancient archaeological site, helping us to understand why the pyramid was built and where the artefacts discovered there were originally placed. Third: Through Reconstructing recent layers of Nottingham Castle, a Creative work and animated artwork was developed by digital Artist, Bruce Asbestos, based on Professor Abdelmonem and team's research and digital documentation of the Castle. The Exhibition used digital technology, digital art, short films and documentaries that cross space and time and engage public audience in unique experience. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The 40-Days exhibit was very popular with thousands of visitors, and was a key contributor to the high visitor numbers in Nottingham Castle Galleries in its new shape. This Exhibition and its online popularity lead to several invitations from Australia and China for virtual exhibition displays which took place during November 2021 (Sydney) and December 2021 (Beijing). Our Research Team developed further digital displays to engage public audience in Ahmedabad in India This Exhibition has also led to the agreement on further exhibitions in Nottingham to display the Centre's research work at the Lake Side Art Centre (May-June 2022), as a companion to the British Museum's Ancient Iraq Exhibition. 
URL https://museumsofthefuture.com/strata-the-exhibition
 
Title TOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLE in GLOBAL HERITAGE 
Description This exhibition used digital technology to provide a combination of virtual reality and walk through experiences of ancient historic sites like, the Hawara Pyramid in Egypt, and its virtual reconstruction, as well as walk through Nottingham Galleries. It also included a series of digital displays and virtual tours of Old Markets in Mosul. The display was virtual due to COVID-19 and hence the audience were introduced to online material and virtual tours. We have followed a creative process to reproduce physical and tangible exhibits to online displays. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact This was the first time our work and creative outputs were put on display for Australia and specially academics specialised in digital and virtual heritage in this part of the world. 
 
Title Virtual Hawara 
Description The LABYRINTH: Conservation, Analysis and Virtual Reconstruction of the Archaeological Site of Hawara Pyramid and Labyrinth Project developed and implemented an evidenced-based strategy and action plan to inform the sustainable preservation of the endangered archaeological site using digital technologies. This exhibition displays a series of ground-breaking virtual modelling, historic layers and inventive interactive tours across time and space. The Exhibition displayed scans of the pyramid and labyrinth area and 3D digital models of the site created for conservation and preservation purposes. This exhibition provided novel ways to foster tourism by increasing global awareness of the site and its historical and archaeological significance. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact Virtual Hawara Exhibition Date: 28-30 March 2022; Venue: Grand Nile Tower Hotel, Cairo, Egypt This Exhibition is the first of its kind in showcasing methods and techniques of virtual heritage technology in translating scientific analysis into virtual journeys into a historic environment that has been reconstructed to a realistic atmosphere of ancient times. It also provided the first master plan and tourism developemnt plan for the heritage site accompanied by the pioneering Virtual Hawara Museum Design Scheme. This Exhibition was accompanied by a Policy Event in which the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt, the Egyptian Exploration Society, The British Council in Egypt, and Newton Musharafa were represented and participated in the displays and discussions. This led to advancing the decisions of the Ministry to place Hawara Pyramid's preservation and site Tourism Development plan as a priority agenda and securing funding for the immediate construction work to dewater the site and develop its tourist infrastructure. 
URL http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/47140/
 
Title Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture, AHRC- Design for Change, AHRC-Exhibition, London Design Fair, Sep 2018. 
Description This is a nationally-organised exhibition that celebrated the Arts and Humanities research Council (AHRC) funded research projects on Design. AS our project was funded under Design Strand in the HARC, it was one of the projects on display on the AHRC-Design for Change Exhibition in London Design Fair, as well as was the first section in the Exhibition Book. The Exhibition included creative and visual outputs of the project collated and curated in a manner to create a virtual summary narratives of its process. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact This was an important exhibition as it brought together nationally-leading creative research projects and their partners and curators during one of the most important calendar events in the UK. It attracted a lot of media attention and lots of visitors. Further communications and contact with fellow researchers and scholars were established for later collaborations. 
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/showcase/
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Cultural (Virtual Heritage Cairo)

Summary of Project Findings

Throughout the 12 months' duration of the project, virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture, the research work, investigation, engagement activities and practical projects, involved multi-layered process of exploration of how creative and innovative industries would develop in the Middle East. The project uncovered multiple aspects of digital and virtual heritage through which it impacts our societies and is impacted by it. It is ingrained in the identity, psyche and everyday life of many people and communities. The nature of heritage and its relation with society is dynamic and changes with time. Hence, engagement with innovative digital technologies is becoming essential facet of its contemporary evolution. However, there is still several gaps to fill in order for the Virtual heritage industry to thrive in the region. These include better understanding of its processes, skill needs, technological infrastructure, research depth and above all legislative framework that enable its professional processes.
In a brief summary, initial research project findings could be summarised in the following points. Please see the project reports for more comprehensive account of its findings.

? Archaeological and cultural heritage are valuable and indispensable assets of societies that play significant in the future of societies that should be seriously considered not only on the cultural front, but also on the socio-economic and sustainable vision of societies.

? Digital technologies and virtual heritage applications have the potentials of saving endangered and vulnerable heritage sites through early stage detection and analysis of structural failures.

? Virtual Heritage has a wide spectrum of technologies that involve wide range of equipment, instruments, software and tools. Their applications range from survey, recording and visualisation such as VR/AR to remote non-intrusive sensing, high sensitive imaging, and inspection of painting in exhibitions, museums and galleries.

? Tech Companies and firms are advancing their technologies that will in no time be able to alienate governmental restrictions on documentation, recording and reproduction of heritage. Hence, Progressive approach towards engaging with and understanding virtual and digital heritage applications is needed to appropriately regulate it.

? Restrictions and preventions is no viable policy in dealing with heritage management and protection in the digital age. New technologies changes and compromise any security restrictions that prevent engaging with heritage sites.

? Reproduction of heritage through digital and virtual forms raise few ethical more and legal concerns. These concerns require further collaborations from professionals and researchers in different fields of enquiry.
Exploitation Route The outcome of this project has been reported through a series of publications and policy documents that influenced the practice, governance and management of virtual heritage sector in Egypt. These are continuing to evolve and informed a number of follow up grants, research collaborations and innovations.

This project also helped us to initiate a strong regional network that put the UK as a leading technology partner for a number of key stakeholders and policy makers in Egypt and the Middle East. Through our capacity-building, knowledge transfer and conference, the UK research team have become strategic partners to a number of regional governments as a direct impact of this project. Our team became consultants for Mayoralty of Baghdad (Al-Rasheed Street Preservation), and collaborated with Department of Antiquities in Jordan, Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt, and the Prince Sultan Chair in Cultural Heritage at King Saud University (KSA).

Our project has developed a series of wide-ranging research and technical training activities that have provided innovative and creative skills critical for the sector of digital preservation in heritage in Egypt. 45 young researchers, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and start-ups gained new skills, five start-Ups developed their own projects, and our affiliated SMEs in Virtual Heritage have been increasingly involved in major projects in using digital technologies for heritage preservation in Egypt and the Middle East. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt has been involved throughout as partners and the Ministry officials, executive office and policy makers took part in our debates and discussions and moved a lot closer to allow virtual tours of its historic sites and engaging private-public partnerships on Virtual Heritage..
Sectors Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description During 2020, This project was nominated and shortlisted for the Newton Prize 2020 award (Egypt Category) and was only one of two heritage-focused projects to be shortlisted. its impact has been substantial, well documented and recorded, specially during the Egyptian Government recent campaign on visiting its heritage sites virtually. Below, the summary of that impact is reported below. Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture has developed a a series of research and technical training activities that have provided a range of innovative and creative skills for the emerging sector of digital preservation in heritage in Egypt. 45 young researchers, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and start ups have joined our activities, gained new skills and took part in a series of practice-led innovative projects to researcher, survey, document and virtually model historic buildings and streets in Medieval Cairo. They have produced a range of virtual models that first produced in Egypt creating a new valuable creative economy and new industrial sector. The new spin-off start-Ups developed their own projects and their work expended to other historic sites with a various range of other clients. our affiliated SMEs in Virtual Heritage have been increasingly involved in major projects in using digital technologies for heritage preservation in Egypt and the Middle East. The Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt has been involved in the project activities and has hosted our seminar on Virtual Heritage Cairo in their headquarters, and our final conference at the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. In both occasions, the Ministry officials, executive office and policy makers took part in our debates and discussions. We are currently working with the government officials to proceed the first Policy document to manage and cover the production of Virtual Heritage in Egypt. This will highly implicate how Virtual Heritage as industry and sector will develop in the Region as creative economy. Our project and activities has gained huge national media coverage and brought aspects of digital preservation methods to everyday debate in Egypt amongst specialists, professionals and academics in the country. Young Egyptian entrepreneurs and research teams who have been trained and mentored as part of this research programme have received substantial innovation awards in Egypt. Al-Muizz Virtual Tour Project has received Samsung's Egypt Award for the most downloadable mobile App in Egypt for 2017, a prize with value of LE.50,000. Orient Museum Project led by Mosaic Team has received the second prize award in Cairo International Book Fair. More recently in 2019, the Ministry of Antiquities have developed a broader approach to digital recording of its medieval heritage sites in Historic Cairo and has invited our team to record Bayt Al-Qadi area as part of its effort to compile a digital record of the old city. We were also invited to a number of consultation events and more recently have been awarded research project for the preservation of Hawara Pyramid and Labyrinth. In summary, this project has develop long-term and substantial impact on the government approach to virtual heritage in Egypt. This impact could be summarised under the following points: Impact 1: We delivered a Research-Policy Document on opportunities, policies and technologies of Virtual Heritage in Egypt, under the title: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age". This document was issued to Egyptian Government (Ministry of Antiquities and Ministry of Higher Education) to inform policy, practice and management protocols, including proposed legislations to administer the growing demand on digital models of its antiquities. It was disseminated during public talks at the Ministry of Antiquities, a Meeting with the minister's Executive team to discuss mechanism of application, at the Academy of Scientise Research. This document provided a roadmap for long-term policy in Egypt. Impact 2: The collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities has evolved to generate a series of other projects on virtual heritage technologies. These included Bayt Al-Qadi in Islamic Cairo (2019) and the Current ground-breaking Project: Labyrinth- Hawara Pyramid (UK-Egypt Funded Project - £375K) on the use of advanced science geophysics and virtual technologies to save the deteriorating heritage sites and open it to international visitors. The Virtual Heritage team at NRIAG was established as part of the Virtual Heritage Cairo Network. Impact 3: The largely informed the establishment of Creative Industry sector on Virtual Heritage, through its Virtual Heritage Cairo (VHC) affiliated network of entrepreneurs, officials, heritage professionals, institutions, and researchers. By the end of the Project 45 Specialists in virtual heritage (digital modelling, creative industry, business models) were trained and 5 SMEs were established, of which 2 SMEs are Award Winning in virtual Heritage applications: VERTEEK's virtual heritage solutions and AVERTS for Interactive Design. Verteek is The Award winner of the Samsung Egypt National Competition for Best Virtual Reality App with a value of 100,000 EGP in 2018 on its project (Virtual Tour of Al-Muizz Street), a VHC-led project. Impact 4: The project has managed to form critical collaboration and partnerships between researchers, officials (MoA) and private sector SMEs and entrepreneurs from another. The Project held the first Academic-Industry Conference in Virtual Heritage (2017) in Collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities in Feb 2017 at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation with 120 participants and the first forum for the Project Established ""Virtual Heritage Cairo Network- VHC"". Impact 5: Research-Led Education. The Project network (VHC) has established huge network with 1700 followers in Egypt, and large number of collaborative academic and institutional entities. Many research projects evolved and large number of virtual reality and virtual tours of Egypt's cultural heritage become mainstream. Investigated case study examples are used as educational and training material by participating academics in advancing local teaching approaches of heritage preservation, modern technology and application of virtual reality in cultural heritage." This project and its outcome has received both national and international recognition for their effective and long-term impact. This is proven by the number of research grants that this project sparked and how many partnerships and collaborations emerged in different parts of the world. Awards: This project has received the exception recognition for being shortlisted for the 2020 Newton Prize Award, and its activities and impact was shared as a success story in several AHRC and UNESCO-UK National Commission Reports. This project has contributed to the Centre's National Recognition through the QUeen's Anniversary Award for the year 2022.
First Year Of Impact 2018
Sector Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services
 
Description Hawara: From an Ancient Marvel of the Middle Kingdom to the Future of Tourism in Egypt
Geographic Reach Africa 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact This project offers revolutionary solutions to many historic sites in Egypt. The current impact informed new approach to heritage preservation and engagement with virtual heritage technologies. This enabled the Historic Site of Hawara to be on display worldwide in Exhibition and displays that is attracting international tourism. The Government policy towards the Pyramid has dramatically changed as an outcome of this research and project activities. Further Lon-term impact will be recorded later in 2022 and during 2023.
 
Description Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Research Policy Document on the Development of Virtual Heritage for Egypt and the Middle East
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The impact of this policy document was realised in the changing public and official policy attitudes towards the digital recording of cultural heritage sites, with subsequent commissioned projects, training activities and engaging heritage professionals and public servants more concretely with digital recording of heritage and their preservation in Egypt and the Middle East.
 
Description Monforte: Winter Solstice Seminar on Heritage Intervention -
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or Improved professional practice
 
Description USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO INNOVATE IN HERITAGE RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact The Policy Brief highlighted key challenges and put forward a number of key principles as follows: Key Challenges: 1. Digital Inequalities 2. Unequal access to heritage 3. Power Imbalances in defining heritage narratives 4. Data ownership and digital ethics 5. Lack of adequate infrastructure and electricity 6. Environmental Pressure and sustainability issues It then offer two key propositions and followed them with 3 case studies that included our work on Hawara and virtual heritage technologies. Those two principles are: ONE. Digital technologies can provide new ways to document, preserve and interpret different forms of heritage, and to transmit them to current and future generations. TWO. Digital technologies can empower people, facilitate collaboration, and amplify marginalised voices, but also enhance global disparities and generate negative environmental impacts.
URL https://unesco.org.uk/using-digital-technology-to-innovate-in-heritage-research-policy-and-practice/
 
Description LABYRINTH: Conservation, Analysis and Virtual Reconstruction of the Archaeological Site of Hawara Pyramid and Labyrinth (El Fayoum)
Amount £230,611 (GBP)
Funding ID AH/R007977/1 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2018 
End 10/2021
 
Description Virtual Heritage Futures: Navigating virtual technologies, creative industries and AI for cultural heritage in the UK and China
Amount £79,970 (GBP)
Funding ID AH/W00948X/1 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2022 
End 02/2023
 
Title Research Report 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Analytical Study for Opportunities, Challenges and Obstacles" 
Description This report aims to introduce a summary survey and information of a series of selective best-practice case studies that produced informative, innovative and creative solutions and platforms for Virtual Heritage. In doing so, the research team has undertaken a comprehensive research on a variety of digital media use for cultural heritage over the past 20 years. Those were filtered according to technology used, aspects of excellence and their relevant contexts 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The results of this report has fed into the training workshops delivered to over 40 Young researchers and Start-Ups and influenced their training. They also had important input into the Government Policy Document: "Managing Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East", which aims to shape the future of Digital management of Heritage in the Middle East. 
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Title VIRTUAL HERITAGE PROJECTS: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES 
Description This report aims to introduce a summary, analytical survey and information of a series of selective best-practice case studies that produced informative, innovative and creative solutions and platforms for Virtual Heritage. In doing so, the research team has undertaken a comprehensive research on a variety of digital media use for cultural heritage over the past 20 years. Those were filtered according to technology used, aspects of excellence and their relevant contexts. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The database of virtual Heritage Projects will support the introduction of innovative digital modelling techniques for medieval Cairo. The methods and examples analysed in this database have been used to train 40 Startups and Early Career Researchers on Virtual Heritage in Egypt. 5 Virtual Heritage Projects are currently underway to survey, record and model five Islamic Monuments in Medieval Cairo, under sponsorship of this project. These Include Sultan Hassam Mosque, Bayt Al-Suhaimy, Shar'i AL-Muizz, Bab Zuwaila & Souq Al-Khayamiyyah. 
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Title Virtual Heritage Cairo Network: Register for Start-Up Fellows 
Description VHC-Register 2016 is the first Chapter of the Global Database for researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs who contribute to the creative and professional attributes of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East. It supports young researchers and start-up entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage. Furthermore, 2016 Chapter envisages building a platform for collaboration between specialist researchers and entrepreneurs from architecture, sociology, virtual modelling, data mining, and visualization and multi-media production to generate innovative and interactive digital models of medieval culture in Cairo. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact VHC-Register2016 aims to grant a limited number of 50 Fellowships to become members of its network and be invited to its activities in Egypt and to online and/or distance learning training activities in the United Kingdom. Two Colloquiums and Two technical Training workshops have been designed to introduce the network fellows to new techniques and technologies for virtual heritage. These techniques are currently implemented into 5 different projects of creative industry companies in Cairo with business plans to generate sustained income over the coming five years. Until now, Forty Fellows have been registered with the Network and the demand is growing. 
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description Virtual Heritage Cairo: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation Government of Egypt
Country Egypt 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution I have designed the Project, training activities and led the research team to drive the project to achieve its targets
Collaborator Contribution The Partners in Egypt facilitated the hosting and organisation matters of project activities, venues and fieldwork surveys in Medieval Cairo. Their staff and experts have given administrative support and expert advice on how historic sites in Egypt could be surveyed and recorded.
Impact Research Reports. Projects, Experts and Enterprise Database for Virtual Heritage in Egypt and the Middle East
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage Cairo: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation National Research Institute Of Astronomy & Geophysics
Country Egypt 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution I have designed the Project, training activities and led the research team to drive the project to achieve its targets
Collaborator Contribution The Partners in Egypt facilitated the hosting and organisation matters of project activities, venues and fieldwork surveys in Medieval Cairo. Their staff and experts have given administrative support and expert advice on how historic sites in Egypt could be surveyed and recorded.
Impact Research Reports. Projects, Experts and Enterprise Database for Virtual Heritage in Egypt and the Middle East
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation Grand Egyptian Museum
Country Egypt 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation Ministry of State of Antiquities
Country Egypt 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
Country Egypt 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation National Research Institute Of Astronomy & Geophysics
Country Egypt 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation Nottingham Trent University
Department School of Science and Technology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation Queen's University Belfast
Department Centre for Public Health (CPH)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description Virtual Heritage of Medieval Culture: Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Department Institute of Applied Health Research
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution VIRTUAL HERITAGE CAIRO is the Digital and Online platform of the International Collaborative Network for Cultural-feed of Virtual Heritage (CfVH) platforms of medieval Cairo. The network focused on the potentials of reducing technical limitations and addition of sub-grid cultural terrains to attain a degree of 'reality' and photorealism of culture as a measure for virtual environments; leading towards the amorphous nature of history. This C.f.V.H Network supports the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that bring together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The CfVH collaborative network developed and supported projects and activities that focus on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage. It supported young researchers, entrepreneurs to engage with innovative technological industry and inform policy makers and online tourism industry on the advantages of virtual heritage.
Collaborator Contribution In collaboration with centres of excellence in virtual and augmented reality, architects, heritage film makers, sociologists, mathematicians and computational scientists, the network developed a collaborative framework that envisages an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of digital surveying, archiving and modelling of cultural as well as built heritage. The Network advanced current research on digital heritage through theoretical and methodological investigations, analysis of gaps in cultural feed of digital modelling, and finally advanced the discourse through practice-led experimental virtual modelling. The Main Egyptian Partners (NRIAG & NIOF) hosted several activities, the Network's 1st International Colloquium, Two technical training Workshops for Egyptian Start-Ups. the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt in collaboration with the Grand Egyptian Museum, hosted our Public lectures, seminar and a few meetings regarding the support of Cultural Heritage Preservation in Egypt. the Ministry will host the Network 1st International Conference in Cairo, 20-21 February 2017, which over 70 Participants from all over the world, with experts and scholars from USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Iraq contributing to the conference.
Impact RESEARCH REPORT 1: "Virtual Heritage Projects: Global Perspectives" RESEARCH REPORT 2: "Virtual Heritage for Egypt: Best Practice Manual" RESEARCH REPORT 3: " Virtual Heritage Cairo: Fellowship Register Database [Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Start-Ups]" POLICY DOCUMENT: "Managing Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Policies and Strategies for the Governance and Development of Virtual Heritage in the Middle East"
Start Year 2016
 
Description 1st International Colloquium of Virtual Heritage Cairo: "VIRTUAL HERITAGE OF HISTORIC CITIES: METHODS, TECHNOLOGIES & PLATFORMS" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The first International Colloquium of the Virtual Heritage Cairo Network took place in Cairo between 27th -29th July 2016, in the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in Helwan, the Historic Astronomic Observatory site, on the first day, and then we moved to the astonishing Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa on the second day. On the third day, we enjoyed a full-day of exclusive visits and tour of the Medieval Islamic Cairo, that was led by the Senior staff of the Ministry of Antiquities, Dr. Mohammad Soliman and Mr Osama ElKasabany.

The colloquium aims to introduce fact-finding research into the possibility and opportunities for digitising the socio-cultural heritage of Old Cairo's hawaris' (local alleyways) everyday life through virtual modelling of its physical settings supplemented by archival data, digital contents mined from cinema productions, televised reports and interviews with ordinary residents during the first half of the Twentieth Century. It attracted specialist researchers and entrepreneurs from architecture, sociology, virtual modelling, data-mining, and visualization and multi-media production to generate innovative and interactive digital models of medieval culture in Cairo. It is designed to achieve the following objectives:
• Building a network of effective partnerships and database of expertise and projects in the field of Virtual modelling of medieval cities' built and cultural heritage
• Identifying best-practice platforms of digital and virtual modelling of historic sites in Old Cairo that support the incorporation and representation of cultural data and Historic material.
• Identifying suitable interdisciplinary methodologies that offer inventive opportunities for visualising medieval cultural productions and bring cultural traditions, values and ideology (religious/ non-religious) into life on virtual and augmented reality platforms.
• Disseminating the needs for innovative platforms of heritage preservation in light of the political and security instability in the region and endangered heritage sites.

The Colloquium was attended by over 70 Participants over the two days of active panels, discussions and debate. The first day comprised two expert panels, made of 4 speakers/presentation each that handled various approaches of the virtual documentation of heritage through a variety of projects, methodologies and systems that are used to raise awareness and engage the public with the valuable assets of cultural archaeological heritage across the globe. They were followed by two round-table debates on the feasibility, potentiality and challenges that face Virtual environments and engagement with heritage, with particular focus on Egyptian context.

The Second day comprised three panels led exclusively by Young Egyptian Researchers, start-ups and entrepreneurs who presented a variety of projects, initiatives and start-up businesses that dealt with both Heritage engagement and Virtual reality in architectural contexts in Egypt. Day two concluded with an open forum, where both experts and entrepreneurs exchange their views, concerns and demands for how such projects as Virtual Heritage in Cairo would be successful in building innovative platforms for the preservation of Cairo's medieval cultural and built heritage. The second day was concluded with a professorial tour of Sultan Hassan Mosque and its four different madrassa by both Professor Nezar AlSayyad and Dr. Mohamed Soliman to the delight of all participants.

Day three was designed to visit the medieval city, introducing its architectural marvels to the young researchers and professionals with exclusive access and guidance by the Ministry of Antiquities experts. The day was designed to make visits to potential fieldwork projects and sites that could be subject to virtual documentation and reproduction. These included Moque, Khanqah and Wekalat of Sultan El-Ghuri, Bayt AlSuhaimy, Bab Zuwailah, to name a few.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description 1st International Colloquium: "Virtual Heritage of Historic Cities: Methods, Techniques, Technologies & Platforms" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The first International Colloquium of the Virtual Heritage Cairo Network took place in Cairo between 27th -29th July 2016, at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in Helwan on the first day. The colloquium event moved to the astonishing Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa on the second day. On the third day, participants enjoyed a full-day of exclusive visits and tour of the Medieval Islamic Cairo, that was led by the Senior staff of the Ministry of Antiquities, Dr. Mohammad Soliman and Mr Osama ElKasabany.

The Colloquium was attended by over 70 Participants over the two days of active panels, discussions and debate. The first day comprised two expert panels, made of 4 speakers/presentation each that handled various approaches of the virtual documentation of heritage through a variety of projects, methodologies and systems that are used to raise awareness and engage the public with the valuable assets of cultural archaeological heritage across the globe. They were followed by two round-table debates on the feasibility, potentiality and challenges that face Virtual environments and engagement with heritage, with particular focus on Egyptian context.

The Second day comprised three panels led exclusively by Young Egyptian Researchers, start-ups and entrepreneurs who presented a variety of projects, initiatives and start-up businesses that dealt with both Heritage engagement and Virtual reality in architectural contexts in Egypt. Day two concluded with an open forum, where both experts and entrepreneurs exchange their views, concerns and demands for how such projects as Virtual Heritage in Cairo would be successful in building innovative platforms for the preservation of Cairo's medieval cultural and built heritage. The second day was concluded with a professorial tour of Sultan Hassan Mosque and its four different madrassa by both Professor Nezar AlSayyad and Dr. Mohamed Soliman to the delight of all participants.

Day three was designed to visit the medieval city, introducing its architectural marvels to the young researchers and professionals with exclusive access and guidance by the Ministry of Antiquities experts. The day was designed to make visits to potential fieldwork projects and sites that could be subject to virtual documentation and reproduction. These included Moque, Khanqah and Wekalat of Sultan El-Ghuri, Bayt AlSuhaimy, Bab Zuwailah, to name a few.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description 2nd International Colloquium: "Visual Representation of Cultural Heritage: Opportunities, Economics, Ethical and Moral Challenges" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The 2nd International Colloquium of the Virtual Heritage Cairo Network took place at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom on 30th January 2017. The Colloquium is titled: "Visual Representation of Cultural Heritage: Opportunities, Economics, Ethical and Moral Challenges" and aims to drive the debate on the evident and potential benefits of the digital recording, preservation and marketing of cultural heritage through virtual and online environments. We look at virtual online environments as an innovative and inventive domain that enables and supports new opportunities of income generation, engages global citizens and supports virtual tours to remote heritage sites, or those sites whose visits are either not possible or pose considerable risk. The Middle East is the case in question for this colloquium, focusing on its peculiar situations, wealth of heritage sites at risk and what best strategies that could be done.

In principle we ask two questions:
- What Virtual environments, digital recording, surveying and modelling offer to support heritage sites at risk?
- How can heritage sites in troubled regions sustain self-sufficient financial support, economic feasibility, accessibility and protection?

The Colloquium will debate and confront the challenges that face the effective and sustainable use of digital and virtual modes of recording, surveying and modelling cultural heritage sites and traditions in the heart of old and ancient cities in the Middle East. The Colloquium attracts multiplicity of specialist, academics, scholars and start-Ups entrepreneurs and Tech companies in both the UK and the Middle East. The event comprises three scheduled presentation sessions, followed by two Roundtable Panels by world experts in the field of virtual heritage as well as representation from Egyptian governments and academic institutions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description 2nd International Workshop: "VISUAL REPRESENTATON OF CULTURAL HERITAGE in Online Environments Modelling Training Workshop on Virtual", 18-19 Feb 2017, NRIAG, Cairo, Egypt 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Second international Workshop took place at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) 18-19 Feb 2017, to enable each team to develop their processed and modelled VR version of their buildings into an interactive interface, that could link modelled spaces to other virtual platforms (e.g.: for on-line trade, exhibition, social networks, and others).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description Formal Working Group with Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact During the Working group meetings, agreements on collaborative projects between Nottingham Trent University, National Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Egypt, and the Egyptian's Ministry of Antiquities have been confirmed. Themes and topics have been discussed and further activities and agreement on the Conference were ratified.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description International Conference: "SUSTAINING HERITAGE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: Towards Virtual Environments for Middle East's Cultural Heritage" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Brief Report:

Virtual Heritage Cairo's 1st International Conference: "Sustaining Heritage in the Digital Age: Towards Virtual Environments for Middle East's Cultural Heritage"; 20-21 February 2017, National Museum of Egyptian Civlisation, Cairo, Egypt.

Virtual Heritage Cairo's 1st International Conference: "Sustaining Heritage in the Digital Age: Towards Virtual Environments for Middle East's Cultural Heritage", attracted researchers, scholars, scientists, academics, technologists and entrepreneurs from several universities, research centers, government agencies, and specialist industries and firms from around the world. It was the first ever international forum on virtual heritage to take place in the Middle East, where, academics, professional and entrepreneurs demonstrated their technological breakthroughs, projects and groundbreaking research in the field. The Conference was organized in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, Nottingham Trent University, Egypt's State Ministry of Antiquities, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Queen's University Belfast. The Conference is sponsored by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) of the United Kingdom.

Papers and project presentations submissions were submitted under the following themes:
A. Digital preservation of heritage
B. Policy-making and heritage management in the digital age
C. Digital archives and sustainable recording of cultural heritage
D. Virtual environments and the future economies of tourism
E. Technologies and applications for virtual heritage.

This conference is a demonstration of successful collaborations and partnerships between British and Egyptian Institutions in the field of virtual heritage that brings together experts from Middle Eastern institutions, research organisations and universities from The United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Japan, Belgium and others within its Virtual Heritage Cairo Network. The collaboration between the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), The National Institute of Oceanography and Fishery (NIOF) from Egypt and Nottingham Trent University, and Wolverhampton University from the United Kingdom, provided opportunities for new ideas, technologies and applications of virtual heritage to be discussed, debated and used to envision new ways of preserving our heritage in an innovative and creative manner. As Virtual Reality and The Cloud seem to dominate new generation of technological development in the Twenty First century, modern research, expertise and educational systems need to adapt quickly.

Virtual Heritage Cairo Network's first international conference supported the growing digital heritage sector in Egypt and the Middle East and organised a series of engagement activities and databases that brought together projects, specialist research institutes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to technically-able entrepreneurs and researchers. The conference participants reported on recent and innovative projects and activities that focused on undertaking creative and practice-led research on imaging cultural heritage in Virtual Heritage.

Over a very busy two days, conference participants debates and discussed the possibilities, capabilities and knowledge that have been developing in this field, not only in Egypt and the Middle East, but also around the globe. The conference had have four Keynote Speakers, five specialist panels that effectively cover global outreach, and over fifty Speakers and overall around 100 participants. The conference covered a wide range of approaches, regions, case studies and techniques. More importantly, The conference audience did not just listened to scholars and researchers, but speakers came from governmental agencies, young entrepreneurs who disseminated their experiences in this field. The Conference specially enabled several start-Ups who worked with Virtual Heritage Cairo's Network over the past 12 months to present their developed virtual heritage models and applications. The conference was the first global event to take place in Cairo and offer the opportunity to acknowledge the experience and progress of StartUps and young researchers in Egypt while offering them guidance on progress in the emerging sector of Virtual Heritage in the region.

This conference concludes the first Phase of the Virtual Heritage Cairo Network, which will build into a broader, more inclusive and practical application of Virtual Heritage in Phase 2 & Phase 3. The Outcome of this conference as well as the past 12 months of Virtual Heritage Cairo Network, will be documented through a series of publications. There is a special issue of the International Journal of Architectural Research (Archnet-IJAR) is planned for Nov 2017 and a Conference proceeding with Cambridge Scholars Publishers.

Part of the impact of this project, is the evolution of further partnerships and conferences in the region. Virtual Heritage Cairo Network and its Conference are invited as partners for next year International Conference on Green Heritage in Egypt that is organised by The Centre for Sustainability and Future Studies at the British University in Egypt (2018) and to take part at the 8th International Ajman Urban Planning Conference in the United Arab Emirates. Partnership on advancing Virtual Heritage Research and projects were agreed with The University in Baghdad in Iraq, and the Chair of Prince Sultan Bin Salman for Heritage at King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In addition associated Researchers and Entreprenurs registered on the Virtual Heritage Cairo Network, have developed innovative StartUps and currently work with our Project team to develop their innovative products into marketable and income-generating applications of Virtual Heritage.


---------------------- CONFERENCE PROGRAMME -------------------------------------

SUSTAINING HERITAGE IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Towards Virtual Environments for Middle East's Cultural Heritage


20-21 February 2017,
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization,
Cairo, Egypt

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Day 1 Monday, 20th February

9.00-9.30 Registration

9.30-10.00 Welcome Address
Prof. Hatem Odah, President, National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics, Egypt
Prof. Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem, Conference Chair and VHC Director, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Prof. Gad ElQady, President, National institute of Oceanography and Fishery, Egypt & VHC Co-Director
His Excellency Minister of Antiquities Address, Egypt
His Excellency Minister of Higher Education Address, Egypt

10.00 -11.30 Keynote Speakers Address
Keynote Address 1: "The manufacture of heritage and consumption of tradition"
Nezar AlSayyad, President, International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE), University of California at Berkeley, USA
Keynote Speaker 2: "Virtual reality and geomatic surveys for the safety of Cultural Heritages: the case of Petra (Jordan)"
Claudio Margottini, Scientific and Technological Attaché, Embassy of Italy in Egypt, Italy

11.30-12.00 Coffee Break

12.00-13.30 Specialist Panel (A1): "Spatial Visualization; How to Control the Domain under the Muslim Rulers in Medieval Time, Focusing Water"
Water Heritage of Medieval Muslim Monuments in Greater Delhi
Naoko Fukami, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Research Station, Cairo
Least Cost Path and Accessibility Map for the Ancient Egyptian Pilgrimage Track, South Sinai, Egypt using Remote Sensing and GIS
Salwa F. Elbeih and El-Sayed A. Zaghloul, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Egypt
Finding the Banks; Visualizing the Medieval Irrigation System in the Nile Delta
Wakako Kumakura, The Organization for the Islamic Area Studies of Waseda University, Japan
Virtual Reality and Islamic Water System in Cairo; Challenges and Methods
Mohamed Ahmed Soliman, Ministry of Antiquities, Egypt

13.30-14.30 Lunch Break

14.30-16.00 Specialist Panel (A2): "Virtual Reality in Cultural Heritage Education"
Virtual Reality in Maritime Archaeology: Education, Preservation and Presentation
Emad Khalil, Alexandria University
Cultural Heritage Education: How to employ INTERNET Infrastructure for the teaching of Cultural Heritage
Yasser Elshayeb, Cairo University & Technical office of the Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina
3D Modelling of underwater archaeological sites: Marsa Bagoush Site
Mohamed Salamaa, Alexandria University
Virtual Reality in Cultural Heritage Education: Teleportation is Becoming a Reality
Wael Akl, Nile University in Egypt

16.00-18.00 Session (A3) (Main Hall): "Global approaches to digital and virtual preservation"
Innovative Approached and Operative Methodologies for Cultural Heritage Conservation: A Critical Evaluation
Antonella Versaci University of Enna "KORE" & Alessio Cardaci, University of Bergamo, Italy.
A Virtual Oasis: Trafalgar Square's Arch of Palmyra
Stuart Burch, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Architectural preservation as a Tool for Detecting the Identity of Historical Cities: Analysis of the Recent Techniques for Selected International Samples
Sabeeh Lafta Farhan, Wasit University; Abbas Ali Hamza, university of Technology; Dhyaa Shaheed Sabr Al-Azzawi, Wasit University, Iraq
Creating a series of Virtual Museums for the underwater archaeological sites in Egypt
Osama El Nahas, Ministry of Antiquities
Phygital Heritage: an Approach for Heritage Communication
Eslam Nofal, Rabee M. Reffat, and Andrew Vande Moere; KU Leuven, Belgium and Assiut University, Egypt

16.00-18.00 Session (A4) (Secondary Hall): "Digital Modes of Preservation in port cities"
Sustainability of Heritage Waterfront Buildings in Suez Canal Cities
Mahmoud Fouad El-Bwab, Ahmed M. Saleh, Faysal M. Abo-ElAzm; Suez Canal University, Egypt
Sustainability and Energy consumption of Historic Buildings using Virtual reality
Mona Rezk Gad, Omar Mohamed Elhosieny; American University in Cairo, Egypt
Can virtual reality save Alexandria's Heritage?
Heba Hatem Alggour, Alexandria University, Egypt
Heritage Education for the Children Mummification workshop approaches
Shreen M. Amin & Rania El-Atfy; Egyptian museum, Egypt
Al- Khayamiya heritage between Economy and VR Technology
Eslam Adel Aboalo, Samer sray, Islam Sedeek, Mohamed El-Boudy, Eman Taha, VHC, Egypt
Spatial Codification: Digitally Preserve Heritage Of Historical El-Darb El-Ahmar Using VR Simulation Technology
Khalid Saeed

19.00-21.00 Conference Gala Dinner

Day 2 Tuesday, 21st February

9.00-10.30 Specialist Panel (B1): "Green Heritage in Egypt: Challenges and Opportunities", Organised by Centre of Sustainability and Future Studies, British University in Egypt
Chair: Ahmed Rashed, Centre of Sustainability and Future Studies, British University in Egypt
Adaptive Reuse: An Innovative Approach for Generating Sustainable Values for Historic Buildings in Developing Countries.
Ayman Othman, British University in Egypt, Egypt
Smart Heritage
Gehan Nagy & Deena ElMahdy, British University in Egypt, Egypt
A review of Green Heritage assessment and benchmarking
Walaa S E Ismaeel, British University in Egypt, Egypt
The application of Virtual Reality as an Interaction Tool in heritage Sites
Deena El-Mahdy, Virtual Heritage Cairo & British University in Egypt.

10.30-12.30 Keynote Speakers Panel 2
Keynote Address 3: "Past Forward: Digital Reality and the Realities of Digitizing
History"
Alonzo Addison, Co-Chair, Digital Heritage Federation & University of California at Berkeley, USA
Keynote Address 4: "Copyright for sustaining heritage in the Digital age"
Ahmed Rashed, Chair, Centre of Sustainability and Future Studies, British University in Egypt
Keynote Address 5: "Transformation from the Material to the Virtual: an old argument revisited for new times"
John Carman, Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage (IIICH), Uni.of Birmingham

12.30-14.00 Specialist Panel (B2): "SUSTAINABLE GREEN MARKETS: Regenerating the Socio-Cultural heritage and Economic Activities of the Attaba Market, Cairo"
Chair: Dalila Elkerdany, Cairo University & Mimar Architects, Egypt
Green markets in the United Kingdom
Nevine Hamza, Newcastle University, UK
Conservation of Cairo historical markets
Dalila Elkerdany, Cairo University & Mimar Architects, Egypt
Historical Cairo Markets as catalysts in decaying areas of value
Sahar Imam, Cairo University, Egypt
Sensitive Interventions in areas of value
Aliaa AlSadaty, Cairo University, Egypt

14.00- 15.00 Lunch Break

15.00-16.30 Specialist Panel (B3): "Archaeogeophysics in Egypt"
Archaeogeophysics Prospection in Egypt: Trends and Achievement
Gad ElQady, National institute of Oceanography and Fishery & VHC Co-Director, Egypt
Egyptian Ancient Heritage the hazard and Protection
Abbas M. Abbas, National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics, Egypt
Protecting Archaeological sites through digital detection of earthquake movements
Mohamed ElGabry, National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics, Egypt
Documentation of Islamic Archaeology: History, Methods used Inspirations of Development
Osama Mokhtar Elksabany, Ministry of antiquities, Islamic monuments sector

16.30-18.30 Session (B4) (Main Hall): "Digital Heritage & Community Engagement in Medieval Cairo"
Medieval Islamic Cairo Heritage: Immersive Virtual Reality Application for Bayt Al-Suhaimy
Ahmad S. Nasser, Abeer S. Abd El-Monsef, Toqa Mohsen; VR lab - Hexel Labs, Egypt
Talent Management as a Novel Approach for Developing Innovative Solutions for Egyptian Heritage Communities Development: A Literature Review
Mohamed H. M. Khalil, Heba A. I. Elsaay & Ayman A. E. Othman, The British University in Egypt, Egypt
Crowd- sourcing Heritage Documentation Model: Rescuing Urban Heritage of Cairo and Alexandria
Mohammed Raafat, Maha ElGewely, Ahmed Fayed & Sara Kessba, German University in Cairo, Egypt
Challenges and Opportunities of Delivering Green Buildings towards Sustaining the Development of Heritage Communities
Salma H Nassar, Heba A. I. Elsaay & Ayman A. E. Othman, The British University in Egypt, Egypt
16.30-18.30 Session (B5) (Secondary Hall): "Methods for Digital Preservation of Heritage in Egypt"
Methods for Digital Photographic Presentation, 3D Photogrammetry and VR Techniques for Digital Heritage and Artifacts Recording.
Tarek Galal Abdelhamid
Engaging with Bayt Al-Suhaimy
Hoor El-Morshedy, Khaled Al-sofani, Shymaa, Bassem, Virtual Heritage Cairo & Ministry of Antiquities, Egypt
Bridging Cyber-Physical Systems and Heritage Buildings: From A Literature Review to An Integrated Conceptual Framework for Documentation of Cultural Heritage
Hebatallah E. Soliman , Ain Shams University, and Laila M. Khodeir, Ain Shams University & British University in Egypt
Cultural Heritage Management: Achieving Stakeholders' Engagement in the Digital Age: A Literature Review
Laila M. Khodeir; British University in Egypt & Ain Shams University, Egypt
Meta Tourism: The Eight Levels of Virtual Heritage
Mohamed Nabil Arafa

18.30-19.00 Conference Closing Panel (Main Hall): "Nezar AlSayyad, Claudio Margottini, Dalila ElKerdani, Alonzo Addison"
Chair: Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem, Director, Virtual Heritage Cairo

19.00-22.00 Evening Tour of Islamic Cairo
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description International Virtual Seminar: "DISRUPTIVE TRADITIONS: The Pandemic and its impact on traditional built environments" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact IASTE 2020 VIRTUAL SEMINAR
"DISRUPTIVE TRADITIONS: The Pandemic and its impact on traditional built environments"
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5th 2020 | VIRTUAL EVENT
14:00-16:00 GMT

In Collaboration with the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE), Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem (PI) has hosted and co-chaired the Live Symposium with four international seminal scholars and practitioners who debated the discourse on the post-pandemic city and the development of virtual traditions in heritage and built environments. The Symposium brought together a series of talks from disciplines such as ancient history, digital media, contemporary design, and cultural heritage, and we designed the agenda to help us develop a better understanding of what this pandemic means to the future of our cities and heritage.

The symposium was part of the international research collaboration of Professor Abdelmonem as a development of our research projects network on virtual and digital heritage. It was co-hosted by the Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage (CAUGH) and Nottingham Trent University and attended by over 250 audience from across the globe land both IASTE and NTU's research network and membership.

This event is the first virtual IASTE Symposium and part of the planning for the IASTE2021 International Conference: Virtual Traditions", which is co-organised ,hosted and chaired by Professor Abdelmonem and connected to our research projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://iaste.org/virtual-events-2/
 
Description Newton Fund- British Council in Egypt - Special Panel Interview: Heritage Preservation in Egypt 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Organisers: Newton-Mosharafa Fund and British Council In Egypt

Title: Preserving Heritage in Egypt: Communicating findings from Newton Mosharafa Fund research
10th February 2021; 1400-1530 (Cairo time)

Brief outline of the event:
"Egypt's cultural heritage is not only central to the identity of the country but has an important and on-going impact on national social welfare and the economy. Prior to the uprising in 2011, tourism in Egypt's was the largest industry and used to be its biggest employer. Years after the unrest and a mega health crisis, the sector has shown significant vulnerability. The current challenge is to design new ways to support the negative impacts of a long fragile sector and to create new opportunities for cultural protection and conservation. The Newton Mosharafa presents two pieces of research to address this challenge through digital heritage preservation and archaeological skill capacitation."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description PUBLIC TALK at Egypt's Ministry State for Antiquities: "Sustainable Management of Virtual Heritage in the 21st Century: Integrating Smart and Digital Preservation into the Creative Economies and Urban Policies of the Future Middle East" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem, Chair of Architecture at Nottingham Trent University and the Project PI has delivered a public talk at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, as part of the public engagement activities of this project. Ministry officials, the Minister Executive Office organised the talk which has made significant change in the Policy makers views regarding virtual heritage in Egypt.

Brief of the talk is below:
Cultural and Archaeological heritage resemble the living memory of contemporary societies that makes sense of their past, present and foundation for the future. From the urban fabric, architectural character to the history of human experience, cultural and built heritage assets are unique aspects of human production that exhibit distinctiveness and authenticity of a city, culture and society. What is unjustifiably ignored is the fact that traditional quarters have never been frozen in time, nor produced at one moment in history. Rather, they are a product of multi-layered additions of cultures, styles, social and economical development. In the preservation of their rich history, policies in the Middle Eastern Cities have largely ignored technology, creative economy, industrial and spatial logic on their historic quarters while focusing on the reproduction or conservation of old buildings in forms of touristic attractions and images of the past.

This talk investigates the tendency to modern technology in digitally recording and documenting cultural and archaeological heritage as part of the on-going histories of the contemporary city and how best new additions, management and activities of historic structures must be integrated into new economic and social possibilities for sustainable urban fabric. New technologies such as Virtual & Augmented reality, laser scanning, Digital modelling, and 360 photogrammetry shape new virtues of recording heritage that provoke new thinking and ideas about policies, regulations and management strategies of heritage. Using the analysis of long-term strategies for historical sites in European cities, Asian and Middle Eastern Cities, this talk makes case for progressive management, strategies and action-plan that debate policy-makers approach for the future of sustainable cities in Egypt and the Middle East. It envisages long-term smart, sustainable and digital strategies for conservation and self-sufficient, income-generating economies rather than being frozen museums for touristic consumption.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com
 
Description UNESCO UK National Commission Conference [Heritage and Our Sustainable Future] - Special Panel of Digital Heritage Technologies 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Panel Title: "USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO INNOVATE IN HERITAGE RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE"
Friday 26th February 2021 | 10:00 - 12:00 (GMT)

This is special panel organised by the UNESCO-K National Committee in collaboration with PraxisResearch team at the University of Leeds, as part of the International Conference: "Heritage and Out Sustainable Future". This cross-cutting session explores ways to maximise the use of digital technologies to innovate in heritage research, policy and practice for sustainable development. How can we use digital technologies to provide new ways to engage with different forms of heritage and amplify marginalised voices? How can digital technologies be used to better-inform the decision-making process? What kind of future research, practical actions, and multi-level and multi-sectorial partnerships are needed?

Formed with three leading experts in the field, each of the Speakers led with a series of research projects and innovations through their work, before a series of participants were divided into 3 panels of debates and discussions. The Panel was attended with an in excess of 170 people from across the globe.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://nomadit.co.uk/heritage-and-our-sustainable-future/index
 
Description Workshop 1: "Recording and Modelling Cultural Narratives in Islamic Cairo: Foundational basis for Virtual Heritage Cairo", NRIAG, Cairo (31 Oct- 3 Nov 2016) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop 1 aimed to training Egyptian Early Career Researchers, Entrepreneurs and STartUps on essential skills that facilitate their work on Virtual Heritage Cairo's practical Projects.

The workshop Brief highlighted that Virtual Heritage Cairo (VHC) Network endeavour to support Egyptian Early Career Researchers (ECRs), entrepreneurs, and young professionals to develop practical skills, research-led creative and experimental projects necessary to establish successful and sustainable start-up enterprises that in the field of Virtual Heritage that contribute to abd be part of the future preservation of Medieval Cairo Heritage. The Network will support innovative and creative projects that document, preserve and introduce novel platforms of engagement with Medieval Cairo's heritage that enable interactive and virtual experiences for local, public and global audience. It aspires to help groups of young to engage in practice-led, research-informed teamwork that is interdisciplinary, innovative and productive. In total, we anticipate supporting the progress of Six Practical Projects, based on reliable and well-studied business plan.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities, University of Wolverhampton (UoW), National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), and other partners in Cairo, Practical projects and skill-training workshops were designed to help teams of researchers and professionals to develop their own Virtual Heritage Platforms for Medieval Cairo.
Each Team selected one of the projects that we aimed to progress, in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities and worked on it during the workshop.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.virtualheritagecairo.com