Contents I. Introduction
The advent of digital technologies has revolutionized the museum landscape, prompting institutions to adapt swiftly to the digital era. Museums now face the dual challenge of preserving cultural heritage while embracing innovative approaches to engage audiences. Central to this transformation is the effective management of cultural heritage data, which encompasses artifacts, historical records, multimedia content, and scholarly research. This digital shift enhances the visitor experience with interactive exhibits and virtual tours, while also presenting new challenges in data preservation and curation. Museums must now develop robust digital strategies to effectively store, catalog, and share their collections with a global audience [1]. As a result, there is an increasing need to develop a digital heritage-sharing platform for traditional cultural heritage content. Such platforms enhance accessibility to cultural heritage, offering opportunities to introduce traditional content in digital form to a broader audience. Additionally, they can be utilized for educational purposes, presenting ways to experience cultural heritage from a contemporary perspective [2]–[5]. In this paper, we delve into the multifaceted role of data management technology within museums. We emphasize the need for tailored solutions that accommodate the unique characteristics of cultural heritage data. Furthermore, we advocate for standardized practices across museum departments to facilitate seamless collaboration and data exchange. Our research focuses on the development of an AI-driven digital heritage platform, designed to enhance access, preservation, and educational outreach. The below describes challenges in cultural heritage data management.
(Data Volume and Diversity) Cultural heritage data spans a wide spectrum, from digitized manuscripts and archaeological artifacts to immersive virtual reality experiences. The sheer volume of data generated by museums necessitates efficient storage, retrieval, and dissemination mechanisms. Moreover, the diversity of data formatsranging from high-resolution images to 3D models-requires adaptable solutions.
(Realistic Content Creation) Museums increasingly leverage digital technologies to create immersive and realistic content. Virtual reconstructions, interactive exhibits, and augmented reality experiences enhance visitor engagement. Effective data management ensures that these creations remain accurate, contextually rich, and accessible.
(Preservation Challenges) Preserving cultural heritage data involves safeguarding it against degradation, loss, and obsolescence. Long-term storage, metadata preservation, and data migration strategies are critical components of any preservation framework. Additionally, managing rights and permissions ensures ethical and legal compliance.
(Educational Use and Outreach) Museums serve as educational hubs, disseminating knowledge to diverse audiences. Cultural heritage data plays a pivotal role in educational programs, research collaborations, and public engagement. Robust data management facilitates seamless sharing, enabling educators, scholars, and students to explore and analyze artifacts remotely.
(Policy perspective) The Korea government has announced a strategy for using artificial intelligence to digitize cultural assets and create digital intellectual property. The plan includes developing a system for converting existing digital and analog data into knowledge-based intellectual property data, using the national integrated platform and digital government big data. This announcement was made in February 2021.
