→ Conducting on-site research and generating 3D scans of a historical site in order to create an informational dashboard that ultimately leads a user to a 3D immersive experience.
Mazarakata UX
Designing an interface for users to learn more about the historical sites in Kefalonia
Initial Research
This project began with very expansive off-site and on-site research. The team of designers split the research into the history of Mycenaean culture, burial practices and rituals, construction of the tombs, and the island of Kefalonia.
🡮 We interviewed Kefalonia Ministry of Culture archaeologists, professors local to Kefalonia, and people who wanted a wider audience to know about the historical sites on the Island.
🡮 For our archival research we utilized the Library of Argostoli, documents provided by the ministry of culture, and online resources.
🡮 Our onsite research consisted of extensive sketching and mapping as well as using LiDAR technology such as Polycam and Scaniverse.
The population living in Greece as well as those visiting Greece are often unaware of the rich and fascinating historical sites found on the Island of Kefalonia. There is a lack of people visiting these sites.
Documentation of the discovery and excavation of these historical sites is not completely digitized. Much of the important information is only physically in libraries which is a risk as many earthquakes have historically threatened artifacts and documentation.
Identified Problem
We will create a interface for 2 audience types: the general public to educate them both on Mycenaean burial practices as well as sites available to visit on Kefalonia and an interface for archeologists to store important documents that are not currently available digitally.
Mission Statement
Early Scanning
🡮 We started by seeing the limits of LiDAR scanning technology. It was most effective in small chunks, so in order to get a 3D scan of the map it will be necessary to split up the scanning in to multiple sessions and stitch the files together in Blender
Visual Design & Testing
The site we studied was unique because of the multiple layers of depth that was explorable by a visitor. The tombs are dug into the soft stone and we wanted to represent this digitally. This was completed by using an interactive map that leads the user through the 3 levels of depth of the burial site and adding a separate section to detail the historical context.
The UX team started asking: how can we take what we’ve research and create a visual interface that is informative and interactive? We wanted to create an experience of progressive disclosure and prioritize getting the interface to as many people as possible. Ultimately, this interface would lead to an 3D immersive experience.
3 Levels of Depth
Above Ground
This is the view of the site from the point of view the user sees when walking on the pathway. We wanted to include an alternative UI solution. We used a dial on the left of the screen to act as the tool to switch between depth views. The user physically drags the dial down to see the deeper view.
Below Ground
The below-ground view showcases the varying sizes of chamber tombs dug into the soft stone on the burial site. These chambers can be explored on foot by users. The chambers can be selected individually to learn more about each by clicking them.
Tomb Level
The tomb level displays each individual grave carved in the chambers. On each level, there is a quick way to begin the immersive experience by selecting the red icon next to the 3D scan corresponding to the level of depth.
3D Immersive Experience
The end goal of the interface is to lead the user to an immersive experience of what it would be like to physically enter the tomb or to act as a guide for those physically visiting the tomb. This was created by utilizing the 3D scans and prototyping a walkthrough on Figma.
Above Ground: Intuitive UI
The UI of the immersive experience is easily recognizable. To progress further you can use the arrows and to reveal tools like maps or measurements you can toggle icons on and off.
The measurement toggle provides exact dimensions and depths to add further detail to the experience.
Below Ground: Data Access
We added items that were discovered by archeologists in the tombs when they were excavated so the user can have a full immersive experience.
Tomb Level: Historical Artifacts
History, Archeology, and Preservation
The history/archaeology sections provide more details on the discovery of the historical site and the burial practices of the Mycenaean culture. The library section acts as a way to digitize documents that are not yet stored online. In these interfaces, we used the same dial implemented in the site exploration section to create consistency.
Archeological Timeline
We used the same dial as a navigator for the user. The user is brought on a detailed informational breakdown of the discovery and preservation of the site. The site can be changed at the top using a drop down.
It was crucial for the Greek Ministry of Culture to reference the current day standing of the site. It is oftentimes neglected with invasive plants overtaking the tombs which could potentially cause erosion due to the soft rock making up the site.
Referencing Current Day
During the research process as we were beginning this project, we noticed that much of the documentation that gave historical overviews or general information on the burial site was archival and not stored online. We created a space for documentation on the historical sites of Kefalonia to exist online for public use.
Document Library
We created an interactive historical timeline that highlights key points of the Mycenaean culture as an educational tool for public use.