C3DHN - An evolutive French Ecosystem for heritage data preservation: methodology, technologies and community
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Eurographics Association
Abstract
The preservation of 3D heritage data is a major challenge for scientific research and the enhancement of cultural heritage. This article presents the structured approach developed by the French community for conserving and utilizing these data, federated within a dedicated national infrastructure: the Consortium 3D for Digital Humanities (CST3D HN). Activities are organized around four main axes: a shared and common methodology, the use of standardized metadata and an open source software tool named Altag3D, the development of the French National 3D Data Repository Archive, and the structuring of a dedicated French scientific community in the form of a scholarly society. https://3dhumanities.hypotheses.org The CST3D HN methodology relies on proven principles for documenting and structuring 3D heritage data. It establishes standards to ensure FAIR principles, particularly interoperability, sustainability, and data accessibility. This methodological framework ensures rigorous project management and harmonization of practices among various involved institutions, extending beyond disciplinary specifics. Multimodal digitization has become essential in the heritage domain. However, point clouds and models can only make sense if associated descriptors are provided. Metadata management is an essential step to ensure data traceability and reuse. The open-source software Altag3D was developed by the entire community: it is based on a structured and interoperable metadata model. Our schema, initially limited to the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage, is now open to other areas of the human sciences. It is aligned with standard vocabularies and mapped to the Europeana Data Model (EDM). Altag3D allows to annotate, to document and to archive 3D models with respect to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) thus aiming for standardization of 3D heritage data. https://altag3d.huma-num.fr The third axis involves setting up the French National Conservatoire for 3D heritage data, which aims to centralize and preserve French 3D heritage productions. This Open Archival Information System (OAIS) infrastructure for research data in France is hosted by the CINES (Centre Informatique National de l'Enseignement Supérieur). Thanks to Altag3D which helps researchers to create their own OAIS Submission Information Package (SIP), 3D models can be stored for next generations; a guarantee of interoperability for at least 20 to 30 years is ensured. The Data Repository assigns a Digital Object Identifier to each submission and introduces numerous innovations, such as using the GLTF format for improved visualization of models. This initiative is part of a long-term conservation and open data strategy, promoting their exploitation by researchers, institutions, and the general public. https://3d.humanities.science These technological and methodological advancements would not be sufficient without the creation of a national scientific community dedicated to heritage 3D at the French scale. The Consortium brings together over 44 members, including academic, institutional, and industrial actors, promoting interdisciplinary exchanges and dissemination of best practices. Within this dynamic, creating a scholarly society aims to ensure the sustainability of this community, structuring its activities (workshops, scientific events, publications), and enhancing its integration within national and international networks.
Description
CCS Concepts: Software and its engineering / Information systems / Applied computing
@inproceedings{10.2312:dh.20253167,
booktitle = {Digital Heritage},
editor = {Campana, Stefano and Ferdani, Daniele and Graf, Holger and Guidi, Gabriele and Hegarty, Zackary and Pescarin, Sofia and Remondino, Fabio},
title = {{C3DHN - An evolutive French Ecosystem for heritage data preservation: methodology, technologies and community}},
author = {Laroche, Florent and Tournon, Sarah and Granier, Xavier and Chayani, Mehdi and Pamart, Anthony and Dutailly, Bruno and Quantin, Matthieu and Grimaud, Valentin and Eusebe, Sylvie and Marlet, Olivier},
year = {2025},
publisher = {The Eurographics Association},
ISBN = {978-3-03868-277-6},
DOI = {10.2312/dh.20253167}
}