LAA321 3D Visualization of Historic Landscape

The course focuses on the documentation, interpretation, analysis, and management of historic parks, gardens, cultural landscapes, and other heritage environments. Students work with the historical development of a site through the study of its spatial structure, historical sources, and changing landscape layers. The course introduces key concepts such as conservation, restoration, reconstruction, authenticity, and relevant legislation, and examines how historic green spaces can be managed, developed, and communicated in a professionally grounded way.

Digital methods are integrated as important tools for analysis, interpretation, and communication. Students will work with selected technologies such as 3D modelling, 3D visualization, reality capture, digital storytelling, and immersive technologies including Virtual Reality. Depending on the case, the course may also incorporate other technlogies amd methods such as Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence (AI) where relevant. These tools are used to strengthen understanding of historical layers, support interpretation, visulaization and improve the communication of heritage values. The purpose of using technology in the course is not simply technical training in itself, but to explore how digital tools can enhance understanding of historic landscapes, make historical layers and development over time more visible, and support more informed conservation and management decisions.

The course is organized around a case that is specified for each course cycle. The VR-Lab is used as an arena for testing interpretations, constrcuting scenarios, and hypotheses related to the historical development and future management of the site.

Students who have completed the course are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes.

Knowledge: Students have knowledge of key concepts, methods, and relevant legislation related to the documentation, interpretation, conservation, restoration, reconstruction, management, and communication of historic parks, gardens, cultural landscapes, and other heritage environments. They understand how historical layers can be identified and analysed through historical sources, field registration, and spatial investigation. They also have knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of digital methods such as 3D modelling, 3D visualization, reality capture, Virtual Reality, and related technologies in heritage analysis, interpretation, and communication.

Skills: Students are able to identify, register, and analyse historic landscape structures and heritage values, and to produce a professionally grounded historical analysis based on relevant source material and site-based investigation. They are able to use selected digital tools and methods to visualize historical layers, test interpretations, scenarios, and hypotheses, and communicate conservation, restoration, and management proposals. They are also able to justify their methodological choices and critically assess how digital representations influence interpretation and presentation.

General competence: Students are able to critically reflect on authenticity, uncertainty, interpretation, and professional responsibility in work with sites of cultural and historical value. They can communicate heritage values, historical development, and management alternatives to both professional and broader audiences through appropriate visual, spatial, and digital forms of representation. They are able to work independently and collaboratively in a case-based process that integrates historical understanding, conservation practice, and digital methods.