Technology as Means to Recreate Cultural Heritage: An Assessment of some Current Portuguese Projects

Abstract: This article aims to introduce a number of technological topics, applied to the valuing of several cultural heritage structures in Portugal, that may be used in the context of issues such as conserving, presenting and communicating cultural heritage to the general public. These attend important aspects such as the modeling technique (manual or procedural), the cost (with the support of efficient and low-cost tools), lighting considerations (the use of accurate illumination of the space) and the use of different dissemination approaches (using in-situ approaches or the internet for collaborative purposes or to increase the target audience). Most of the results, presented mainly through the means of virtual models, are available in several museums showing their advantages in the interpretation of our national history and providing new ways for visitants to exploit our heritage.