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About 3DBigDataSpace

Transforming the Future of 3D Digital Cultural Heritage.

For years, the limited availability of high-quality 3D content has posed a significant challenge for Extended Reality (XR) and 3D applications in the cultural heritage sector. Despite the increasing accessibility of large-scale 3D datasets, their practical usability remains hindered by fragmented metadata, inconsistent quality, and lack of interoperability.

3DBigDataSpace is here to change that.

Launched in February 2025 and funded by the Digital Europe Programme, the 18-month project “3D Big Data to Enrich the European Data Space for Cultural Heritage” (3DBigDataSpace) aims to significantly expand and enhance the availability of high-quality 3D models within the Common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage.

Through the aggregation of over 50,000 3D models from various content providers and Europeana aggregators, the project establishes a stable, long-term and interoperable storage solution for 3D cultural content—including original 3D models, raw sensor data, and interactive viewer derivatives. This infrastructure will strengthen pan-European efforts in digitization and ensure future-proof access to Europe's digital heritage.

Enhancing Cultural Heritage with AI and XR Technologies

To unlock the full potential of these 3D resources, 3DBigDataSpace is deploying advanced AI-powered enrichment pipelines. These technologies improve the findability, contextualization, and reusability of cultural datasets—ensuring that content is easier to discover, understand, and apply across various sectors.

Enriched data will lay the foundation for immersive Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and 4D world applications, transforming how we engage with cultural heritage both in-person and online.

Bringing 3D Cultural Heritage to Life

The project's impact will be demonstrated through pilot applications in museums, local heritage networks, and cultural routes. Through collaboration with educators, researchers, and professionals, as well as direct engagement with the public, the project aims to democratize access to advanced digital heritage experiences.

A multi-layered training and capacity-building

programme will engage students, scholars, and professionals across Europe, while broad-reaching demo cases will involve diverse audiences through targeted cultural and educational activities.

Strategic Goals

Aggregate High-Quality 3D Content:

Integrate extensive collections of 3D models into the common European data space for cultural heritage, with a curated selection made publicly accessible via Europeana.eu

Establish Europe-Wide Storage Infrastructure:

Test and refine the use of public repositories to ensure long-term accessibility and sustainability of 3D data

Deploy AI-Driven Enrichment Pipelines:

Improve classification, location recognition, and metadata quality through intelligent automation

Develop XR & 4D Tools:

Build interoperable viewers and immersive AR/VR solutions, including time-based 4D experiences

Demonstrate Real-World Value:

Showcase impact through cultural pilots, educational initiatives, and community engagement

Build Capacity:

Equip stakeholders with the skills and knowledge needed to drive digital transformation in the heritage sector

A Pan-European Partnership

Representing the full cultural 3D data value chain.

The 3DBigDataSpace consortium represents the full cultural 3D data value chain—from data acquisition and enrichment to public dissemination and re-use:

Coordinator:

Time Machine Organisation (AT)

Research Institutions:

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (DE), Fondazione Bruno Kessler (IT), Universidad de Vigo (ES), PSNC – Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)

Cultural Institutions & Networks:

Hunt Museum (IE), European Historic Houses (BE), Conferencia de Rectores del Suroeste Europeo (ES)

Europeana Aggregators & Foundations:

Stichting Europeana (NL), CARARE (IE)

SMEs & Technology Providers:

IN2 Digital Innovations (DE), Inception S.r.l. (IT), rooom AG (DE)

Connecting Archaeology and Architecture in Europe (CARARE)

Conferencia de Rectores del Suroeste Europeo

Looking Ahead

Join us on this journey.

3DBigDataSpace directly supports the European Commission’s ambition to digitize all at-risk cultural heritage monuments by 2030. By bridging the gap between data availability and practical application, we are not only preserving Europe’s rich past but also enabling vibrant, interactive digital futures.

Join us on this journey as we make 3D cultural heritage more accessible, immersive, and future-ready than ever before.