We are working on the Swayambhu Stories project.
The first goal of this project is to preserve important cultural sites digitally through 3D models so that they can live on in the event that they are damaged by natural disasters and/or time. The second goal of this project is to inform people about the story and history of the cultural sites through digital annotations in the form of text, audio, video, and images. The Swayambhu Stories project gives the people of Nepal, and people all over the world, the ability to experience the cultural sites as if they were there in person.
The values of this project are to provide a zero cost way to share cultural information to all people with internet access. The project is intended to create a high quality immersion experience of the cultural site and share the preserved cultural heritage with all.
The biggest need that this project meets is the preservation of important cultural heritage sites to protect them from ever changing culture and climate change. This project also meets the need to connect Nepalese people all over the world with important sites in their culture. Making a 3D virtual representation of the Swayambhu region accessible online facilitates education and awareness; students, researchers, and the general public can learn about the site’s history, architecture, and cultural significance from anywhere in the world. Regardless of background or expertise, users can study geographical features in great detail. This accessibility fosters academic research and promotes a deeper understanding of the cultural and religious aspects associated with the Stupa.
Our project is important because as culture changes over time, information about important cultural sites can become lost. Our project aims to preserve cultural heritage sites indefinitely. Older sites are more vulnerable to damage from earthquakes and we are able to provide a way to preserve these sites from this sort of damage through high quality 3D models. In the future, detailed 3D models can aid in site reconstruction and damage repair in the case that repairs are needed. The 3D virtual representation of Swayambhunath expands its reach far beyond physical boundaries – people who might never have the opportunity to visit Nepal can now experience the site virtually, fostering global cultural exchange and understanding.
Furthermore, virtual representation can serve as an educational resource for schools, museums, and cultural institutions. Possible explorations of the project include integrations into educational programs, allowing students to explore the site’s history, symbolism, and cultural significance.
The Swayambhu Stories project creates a platform for meaningful, tangible interactions with a sacred Nepalese site. We aim to preserve cultural importance through digital means, provide resources for greater awareness, and educate users beyond images and simple web searches. With the growing influence of climate change, creating a digital preservation format has never been more important. Thus, our team hopes to advance the cultural enrichment of global communities and help preserve the essence of Nepal’s cultural identity for generations to come.