Sharing the First Stories

Tim Handfield

Photography viewpoints showing the multiple overlapping perspectives needed to build the 3D image.

Antarctic Heritage Trust is excited to have a new creative project being developed using augmented reality (AR). Partnering with Australian-based Tim Handfield (Handfield & Bell Digitising Consultants) for photography and scanning and Trevor Coates (Leapfrog Strategic Communications) for 3D rendering and model refinement, a small number of artefacts from the Cape Adare collection have been 3D digitised to the highest quality.

Following the successful exhibition Breaking the Ice held at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand last year, Tim had a small window of opportunity to capture the objects as they were packed down from the exhibition.

Tim describes the project as “an exciting new way to present the collection to the public”.

The remoteness of the Cape Adare site means few people will ever have the opportunity to visit it. The Trust’s General Manager Operations and Communications, Francesca Eathorne says that by using the cleverness of emerging technology like augmented reality and virtual reality we can bring these sites and their incredible stories to the Trust’s worldwide audience in a dynamic and significant way.

Photogrammetry was chosen as the scanning method for its ability to produce models with detailed geometry and accurate colours. An exacting craft, the creation of each 3D image took Tim anywhere from 200-300 exposures of each object, using a custom designed glass turntable and meticulous lighting.

The Trust is working with New Zealand company, Staples VR to develop the content. Once the objects are transformed into AR people can access it on their devices in a very simple way. Activating different points on the object opens audio, photo and video content bringing these artefacts and the stories of Borchgrevink’s Southern Cross and Scott’s Northern Party expeditions to life.

Keep an eye on the Trust’s channels to see when this project goes live.