Patrimônio em 3D: recomendações de boas práticas para a digitalização 3D de instrumentos científicos históricos

Abstract

The 3D digitization of scientific cultural heritage artefacts has the potential to enhance the value of the original objects, highlighting their uniqueness and the history they embody. This context stems from the growing interest in these technologies and the increasing frequency of disasters and tragedies that affect cultural heritage, prompting museums and research institutions to digitize their collections. In this context, there are multiple methodological approaches and technological options, compounded by the fragmentation of knowledge across fields such as design, museology, computing, archaeology, and engineering, which makes it difficult to determine the most appropriate methods and techniques, particularly for reflective and translucent objects. Considering this gap, the following research question is formulated: is it possible to systematize a set of criteria and strategic actions to assist with the technical and technological choices involved in the 3D digitization process of historical scientific instruments (HSI) held in museums? The central objective of this thesis is to identify and analyze suitable techniques for the 3D digitization and digital dissemination of HSI forming part of the material heritage of science and technology and, based on these, to formulate guidelines for best practices to support decisions regarding 3D digitization in museum contexts. Methodologically, 3D photogrammetry and structured light technologies are considered and evaluated—both individually and in combination—in terms of their effectiveness for different types of artefacts, based on two phenomenological and descriptive case studies. These studies examine the 3D capture processes for the Oswaldo Cruz Microscope (part of the Museu da Vida Fiocruz collection) and the Pazos Telescope (Observatório do Valongo – UFRJ), discussing the challenges encountered, the solutions adopted, and the results obtained, as well as the possibility of extrapolating and adapting the procedures to other research projects, thereby contributing to the development of a critical body of knowledge on the subject. The main contribution of the thesis lies in the development of tools and recommendations structured within a workflow specifically adapted to this type of artefact, which guides the selection of methods and technologies for the 3D digitization of historical scientific instruments (HSI), thereby contributing to their digital preservation and accessibility.