REbuilding a sense of PLACE (REPLACE) is a programme of research that aims to increase community resilience after natural disasters by advancing our understanding of the socio-cultural role 3D technologies can play in rebuilding a sense of place, thus enabling communities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, mitigate the effects, and adapt to environmental disasters.
A UKRI FLF funded project, REPLACE aims to advance the transformative deployment of 3D technologies in supporting communities and heritage in the context of environmental disasters. We will investigate how a sense of place, heritage and resilience intersect, and co-develop and assess how to integrate participatory practices and 3D technologies into the Hazard Management Cycle. We will explore how we can impact policy, practices, and standards for the use of 3D technologies to support communities and heritage in the context of disasters. We will also examine if the Hazard Management Cycle works effectively in supporting communities and in the way they need it to. Our case studies are selected based on their “placements” within the hazard management, and through that we can explore the different uses communities would have for 3D technologies in their experiences of earthquakes.
Values
01. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The REPLACE team advocates for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, following the University of Essex Policy 2019-25
The REPLACE team is committed to supporting our communities to become more resilient, by enabling them to prepare for, respond to, recover from, mitigate the effects, and adapt to natural disasters.
03. Sustainability
The REPLACE team strives for sustainability, by minimising the project’s environmental impact and increasing its longevity in terms of reuse and repurpose through community-led practices of co-creation and co-ownership.
04. Respect and Humility
The REPLACE team is guided by humility and respect, by having due regard for the needs, abilities and vulnerability of our communities and deferring to them as the experts of their own embodied lived experience.
05. Freedom, Mastery and Autonomy
The REPLACE team champions Freedom, Mastery and Autonomy, by sharing with our communities the knowledge, skills and means necessary to autonomously engage with and adapt the project’s designs.
06. Lightness
The REPLACE Team seeks to develop designs that produce feelings of enjoyment and/or satisfaction in the virtual experience of place, not as a form of nostalgic escapism but as a personal and intergenerational reflection leading to a new perspective of place.
07. Curiosity and Innovation
The Replace team embraces Curiosity and Innovation, by challenging assumptions, encouraging our communities to try something new and imagining possible alternative futures.
3D Technologies
WEBGL
WebGL is a real-time interactive model of the environment, allowing both bird-eye view and flying mode. Users can explore the surroundings, approach objects of interest and upload contents.
FEATURES
Smartphone
Desktop
VR-HMD
Uploading contents
Collaborating
Viewing extra contents
3DF
6DF
GO-TO VIRTUAL PLATFORM
Mozilla Hubs is a real-time model of the environment, allowing virtual collaboration and shared exploration. It supports immersive viewing and works as well on classical mobile devices and desktops.
FEATURES
Smartphone
Desktop
VR-HMD
Uploading contents
Collaborating
Viewing extra contents
3DF
6DF
360-DEGREE MEDIA
360-degree videos provide an immersive and panoramic viewing experience, allowing users to explore a complete visual sphere in all directions. This technology offers an innovative and dynamic way to experience spaces.
FEATURES
Smartphone
Desktop
VR-HMD
Uploading contents
Collaborating
Viewing extra contents
3DF
6DF
3D-VR APPS
3D virtual reality (VR) experiences transport users into immersive digital environments. These applications use stereoscopic 3D visuals and spatial audio to simulate a realistic world that users can explore, manipulate, and engage with.
FEATURES
Smartphone
Desktop
VR-HMD
Uploading contents
Collaborating
Viewing extra contents
3DF
6DF
3D PRINTS
3D printing is a technique that facilitates the meticulous recreation of artifacts, providing a non-intrusive preservation method. This approach is particularly valuable for safeguarding delicate, deteriorating, or inaccessible items, as well as reproducing lost heritage in a material form. The advantages of 3D printing extend beyond preservation, offering unprecedented educational and communication opportunities.
One notable benefit is the ability to create exact replicas, enabling direct and sensorial interactions with artifacts. This provides a unique opportunity to foster a diverse engagement with cultural heritage. Moreover, 3D printing allows for the promotion of unauthorized or unconventional heritage based on community interests. This approach fosters a more participatory grassroots method for heritage identification and valorisation. Communities have the opportunity to actively shape and showcase their heritage, adding a dynamic layer to the preservation narrative.