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Arts & Communication Digital reconstitution of lost heritage

repositories and featuring on websites to encourage remote heritage preservation. Driven by advances in machine
viewing by online users. Furthermore, researchers have learning and computational capabilities, the use of AI in
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been using XR tools and AI to present digital heritage, the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage is
with a focus on creating virtual visits, online exhibitions, becoming an increasingly prominent research area, with
and cataloging inventory of heritage. For instance, in a variety of studies introducing different methodologies
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the same period, China supported a project to create a and frameworks. For instance, the study by Kim and Lee
digital museum of ancient stone carvings to make cultural investigates the restoration of cultural assets using artificial
artifacts more accessible and protect them from erosion. 36 neural networks to differentiate various types of roof
The decade also saw technological advancements tiles, showcasing the ability of the technology to discern
significantly contributing to the widespread adoption of subtle variations in cultural patterns, essential for precise
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XR experiences in museums. Notable examples include restoration. Similarly, Li emphasizes the integration of
the Museum of Pure Form and the Virtual Museum of VR with AI in protecting cultural heritage, suggesting a
Sculpture, both developed for the general public and comprehensive, multi-modal conservation approach.
designed with time-limited experiences to regulate visitor In addition, the pioneering work of D’Orazio et al.
traffic through exhibitions. These initial physically-based in 2023 examines the use of long short-term memory
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experiences gradually transformed into entirely virtual neural networks for processing maintenance requests, a
museum spaces, as demonstrated by the Exploratorium development with significant implications for proactive
and the CREATE initiative, funded by the European conservation strategies that could prevent deterioration
Union. Concurrently, the application of augmented and reduce the need for invasive restorations. This aligns
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reality technologies facilitated the extensive digitization of with the study by Moreno et al. where the application of
museum collections, a process exemplified by initiatives fuzzy logic in assessing environmental impacts on heritage
at the Center for the Art of East Asia at the University of buildings, proposing a multifaceted conservation strategy.
Chicago. Importantly, the democratization of Virtual Bordoni et al. expanded the extensive capabilities of AI as
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Learning Environments (VLEs) experienced a significant a powerful tool for archiving, safeguarding, and engaging
turning point with the launch of Google’s Arts and Culture with cultural heritage. Their comprehensive review lays the
platform in 2011. This influence was further enhanced groundwork for future research. Concurrently, the study
by the introduction of Google Cardboard in 2014, an by Ranaldi and Zanzotto delves into self-empiricist logic,
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inexpensive head-mounted display widely adopted in suggesting that modern AI technologies have the potential
educational settings. Subsequent years saw the rise of to revolutionize heritage conservation.
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numerous VLEs, including those developed for institutions Within the extant scholarly landscape, two distinct
such as the Rijksmuseum and the National Archeological paradigms are prevalent: the first emphasizes the
Museum of Marche. 41 restoration and conservation of physical artifacts and
More recently, there has been a notable increase in the architectural structures, while the second delves into the
development and use of digital twins for the preservation more ephemeral aspects of cultural heritage. Whether it
of cultural heritage, a movement accelerated by global is employing neural networks for detailed restoration of
events such as the pandemic. Bevilacqua et al. have physical artifacts or leveraging predictive algorithms for
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explored applications from the digital twin of the First forward-thinking conservation strategies, this technology
Parliament in Italy to the Charterhouse of Pisa in Calci. stands as a formidable agent of change in traditional cultural
Meanwhile, Tan et al. have focused on methodologies heritage management practices. Therefore, fostering a
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employed in Asia, specifically for the digital archiving of robust, interdisciplinary exchange between AI specialists
Xiegong, a distinctive architectural feature in historical and heritage conservation professionals is crucial for
Chinese structures. These diverse projects highlight the developing effective approaches in this field. However, it is
importance of interdisciplinary collaborations between noteworthy that most examples cited in the literature focus
technical experts and scholars to create effective digital on employing technology to preserve or recreate existing
models for the protection of cultural heritage. cultural elements. The ensuing section will introduce a

Although there is an abundance of research covering nascent third paradigm, proposing the use of generative
digital twins in cultural heritage preservation, there AI as a groundbreaking tool in recovering lost or damaged
remains a notable gap in the thorough examination of elements of cultural heritage, thus venturing into the realm
how generative AI tools can accelerate the reconstruction of reconstituting them which no longer physically exists.
of damaged or lost cultural artifacts. However, there have In the evolving landscape of digital art reconstruction,
been some explorations at the nexus of AI and cultural the application of generative AI technologies has emerged

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 4 doi: 10.36922/ac.2719