Visual Dimension bvba

Visual Dimension bvba is a SME which focuses on the use of ICT in cultural heritage and in architecture.  The company specialises in 3D reconstruction of historical buildings and landscapes that have disappeared or changed, in 3D digitisation of museum objects and historical buildings and landscapes that are still present, and offers consultancy on the sustainable implementation of ICT in cultural heritage and tourism.  It has 15 years of experience in this domain and has completed ICT projects in Belgium and Europe (Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Greece and Israel).  It has been at the forefront of developing innovative ICT applications for cultural heritage such as the TimeScope, which received both the Flemish ‘Best Monument Award’ and the Dutch ‘Golden Scarab’ in 1998, and the TimeFrame, which received the Dutch ‘VGI ICT Innovation Award’ in 2004.

Visual Dimension focuses on 3D digitisation based on photography through normal digital cameras, using the EPOCH tools ARC3D and Meshlab. This technique makes 3D digitisation significantly more efficient and easy.  Visual Dimension has been working with photographers and cultural heritage experts to fine tune the workflow for cultural heritage applications and improve the quality and fitness for use of the 3D models, both for outdoor and indoor settings, and museum objects.  The technique has been taken up by cultural heritage institutions and experts from several domains, demonstrating its potential for swiftly creating high quality 3D models without major investment or complex technology.

The company also has major experience in virtual reconstruction of historical buildings and landscapes.  Together with other experts in virtual reconstruction, Visual Dimension contributed significantly to the Charter of London that creates an international methodological framework and guidelines for 3D visualisation.  The InMan methodology, developed by Visual Dimension, based on the experience gained in several virtual reconstruction projects, has been proposed as a first implementation of the Charter.  Visual Dimension has been instrumental in optimising workflows for many ICT technologies in cultural heritage and tourism, and disseminating this knowledge through publications such as the EPOCH know how books (http://www.digitalheritage.se/ ).