The project under review stems from a collaboration between the University of Ostrava and the Institute of National Heritage in the Czech Republic, focused on transforming guided tours of monumental cultural environments through the implementation of digital technologies. The choice of the cooperating cultural institution was based on its authority at the national level and its involvement in cultural heritage preservation, as well as its openness to the use of digital technologies.
The students, involved in the project, focused their attention on the industrial National Cultural Monument "Lower Vítkovice" in Ostrava. The goal was to make the industrial environment accessible to visitors without a traditional guide, using digital humanities. Project phases included familiarization with the organization, research of historical materials, an excursion into the industrial environment, comparison of the historical and current situation, definition of themes for application of digital methods, and mapping of locations for digital technologies.
Subsequently, checks were carried out on the company, with a focus on the National Heritage Institute. The institute, a state organization, carries out various activities, including protection and restoration of cultural and industrial heritage, audiovisual production, consulting, and presentation of cultural heritage. Activities focus on the protection and presentation of cultural and industrial monuments.
Lab sessions were held in the space under one of the blast furnaces of the Cultural Monument, and students used resources from the digital humanities to create an unguided tour. The selected area was authentically preserved, with traces of industrial operation, and students used technologies such as 3D augmented reality graphics, visual effects, audio and video recordings to enhance the visitor experience.
The project, therefore, emphasizes the importance of maintaining the authenticity and atmosphere of the monument while introducing modern technologies. The project evaluation reflects on the opportunity to transform traditional guided tours into interactive and engaging experiences through the creative use of digital humanities.
