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National Discovery Museum Institute and Autodesk to Digitize Artefacts from 1,500 Thai Museums

Categories: Press Releases

BANGKOK, September 12, 2017 – The National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI) and Autodesk today announced a joint effort to digitize collections from 1,500 museums nationwide using Autodesk ReMake.

The project will see NDMI and its member museums converting 2D photos and scans of important historical artefacts into high-definition 3D digital replicas, and the digital assets will be hosted on NDMI’s website to create new virtual experiences and touchpoints for people anywhere in the world with Thai culture and history.

Speaking to reporters at Autodesk University ASEAN, Rames Promyen, Director, National Discovery Museum Institute said: “This project that we’re embarking on with Autodesk is important for several reasons. We’re in a race against time when it comes to preserving artefacts, and it’s impossible to showcase all of the artefacts in our vast collection to the public. Thailand is headed towards a digital future, and NDMI is adopting cutting-edge technology to not only preserve our past, but to engage the digitally savvy, younger generation and help them learn about our history in an interactive manner.”

NDMI conducted a pilot in June 2016 to digitize some of its artifacts using laser scanners previously and found the equipment required costly and the level of technical expertise needed could not be scaled across its large network of museums.

Autodesk ReMake was chosen for this project because it is an end-to-end solution that converts 2D photos or scans of real-life objects into high-definition 3D models. This process is called Reality Capture, and ReMake makes this accessible to users with little or no 3D modeling expertise.

To kick-off the project, NDMI and Autodesk has started rolling out a training program to five museums representing each region in Thailand. These are:

  • Central region: Museum Siam and Thammasat Chalermprakiat Museum
  • Northern region: Chiang Mai National Museum
  • Northeast region: Sakon Nakhon Museum
  • Sothern region: Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Cultural Studies
  • Western region: Sa Ko Si Narai Museum

“We’re honored to play a role in preserving such invaluable pieces of Thai culture and history. Once artefacts have been digitized, the possibilities are limitless. We can use augmented and virtual reality to help people ‘experience’ history firsthand, or we can even bring these artefacts and the stories of their historical significance to more people with 3D printing,” said Arpaporn Suporntip, Autodesk Country Manager for Thailand.

“This is only the first phase of what will be an on-going project. Once we have introduced Autodesk ReMake and Reality Capture to our member museums, we will work to increase our collection of digital artefacts every year,” said Promyen.

About Autodesk

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About National Discovery Museum Institute

NDMI Is a specific organization under Office of Knowledge Management and Development Public Organization (OKMD) Established by the declaration of Knowledge Development Executive Boards Decree on June 18, 2004. The objectives are to help setting up “Museum Siam”, a new trend of museum with a concept of learning center that focus on thinking development, enhance advanced learning and create innovations, support collaboration and increase participation with other museum networks. NDMI also aims to set standard for Learning Process and museum management at a higher quality and efficiency; improve proper museum knowledge for Thai society which focus at the students, researchers, and all citizens.

Autodesk and ReMake are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

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