About Digital Heritage Project

Digital Heritage is an effort to collect, store and share data on architectural sites and stimulate research in visualization, computer vision, graphics and related fields.

Microsoft Research India's Advanced Development and Prototyping Team has completed a pilot prototype for the Sri Andal Temple in Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu. Building upon the existing Photosynth and HDView technologies, engineers, researchers and designers, teamed up to create a virtual representation of the South-Indian landmark which enables users to walk through the premises of the temple, observing the vivid courtyards, murals and pillars that lie within. Users may choose to follow a 'guided-tour' where a narrator explains the historical and cultural importance of what is being viewed. In order to enhance the experience, giving it a 'real-life' effect, ambient sounds of pujas, birds and natural surroundings have been built into the system.

This effort spanned 3 trips to Srivilliputtur, spanning 7 volunteers using Digital Cameras, resulting in over 7000 pictures, 20 hours of video and audio, capturing the ambience and the mood during normal days and festivities including forms of song, dance and folklore

This project is now part of a broader initiative known as “The India Digital Heritage Project”, a collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and various academic and industry research organizations.