The study, led by Cyprus University of Technology, has identified all relevant elements for successful 3D digitisation of cultural heritage, classifying them by degree of complexity and purpose or use. The study also looked at what determines the quality of a 3D digitisation project and made an inventory of existing formats, standards, guidelines and methodologies used by the industry.

This unique study on 3D digitisation demonstrates that complexity and quality are fundamental considerations in determining the necessary effort for a 3D digitisation project to achieve the required value of the output.The overall aim of this study is to improve the quality of 3D digitisation projects for tangible cultural heritage, in support of European Union cultural heritage strategies.

This study will enable cultural heritage professionals, institutions, content-developers, and academics to define and produce high-quality digitisation standards for tangible heritage.
The elements of the framework include:
+ The technical parameters that determine the level of quality of 3D digitisation.
+ Existing digital formats, standards, benchmarks, methodologies and guidelines for 3D digitisation.
+ Past or ongoing 3D digitisation projects and existing 3D models and data sets that can serve as benchmarks.

Dr. Marinos Ioannides of the Digital Heritage Research Lab (DHRLab) at Cyprus University of Technology and Director of UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage (CH) led this complex and all-encompassing project, working with nine important players in the industry and a number of external experts providing their research contributing to this exceptional study.