One of the most significant advantages of digital twins is their ability to provide precise measurements of a structure. These virtual models are created using advanced laser scanning and photogrammetry techniques, capturing every intricate detail down to the millimetre.
For castles, this level of accuracy is essential when planning restorations, new architectural projects, or exhibitions. Whether adding a visitor centre or designing interactive displays, architects and curators can rely on the digital twin to visualise and test ideas without risking damage to the original structure. It’s a cost-effective, time-saving way to experiment with layouts, ensuring new elements integrate seamlessly into the historic space.
Safeguarding Castles from Structural Damage and Decay
Historic buildings, particularly castles and ruins, face ongoing threats from time and the elements. Digital twins are playing a crucial role in protecting these landmarks. By capturing a structure’s current condition, they allow experts to monitor changes over time, such as subsidence, erosion, or damage from extreme weather.
For instance, if cracks appear in the stonework or walls begin to shift, a digital twin can help pinpoint the exact areas at risk. This early-warning system supports conservation teams in acting swiftly to prevent further deterioration. Regular scans can also highlight patterns of wear and tear, guiding long-term preservation strategies.
Reimagining Lost Elements of the Structure
Many castles have missing or damaged features—towers reduced to rubble, walls worn away by centuries of weather, or interiors stripped of their grandeur. Digital twins can offer insights into how these elements might have once looked.
Using historical research, old drawings, and structural analysis, we can reconstruct lost features within the digital model. For example, a collapsed medieval roof can be digitally rebuilt, allowing historians to visualise its original appearance and better understand the castle’s construction techniques. These virtual reconstructions bring history to life, offering new ways to engage audiences. At ARHistory we love architecture and in fact our first ever project was a digital recreation of a ruined church in Liverpool!
Bringing Augmented Reality to Historic Spaces
One of the most exciting applications of digital twins is their use in augmented reality projects. By providing a highly accurate 3D mesh of a building, digital twins serve as a framework for layering digital content into physical spaces.
For example, visitors exploring a castle could use AR to see a vanished banquet hall restored to its former glory or watch an interactive re-enactment of a historic event unfold in the courtyard. The precision of the digital twin ensures that virtual elements align perfectly with the real-world environment, creating seamless and immersive experiences.
How Digital Twins Are Created
Creating a digital twin involves several key phases, each requiring specialist technology and expertise:
Accurate Laser Scanning and Photogrammetry
High-resolution laser scanners and drones equipped with cameras capture the castle’s geometry and textures from every angle. These tools create a point cloud—a digital representation of the building made up of millions of data points.Model Creation
The point cloud data is processed to create a 3D model, which serves as the digital twin’s foundation. This phase involves ensuring the model is accurate and free of errors.Data Layering
Once the base model is complete, additional data is layered on. This might include historical records, material analyses, or structural information. These layers make the digital twin an interactive resource, capable of providing insights beyond its physical appearance.Integration for Applications
The final step involves adapting the digital twin for various uses, such as AR projects, monitoring tools, or virtual tours. The model may be simplified or enhanced depending on its purpose.
Expanding the Possibilities
Beyond these core uses, digital twins are opening doors to new opportunities for castle owners. They can be used to create virtual tours for remote audiences, generate income through licensing digital content, and even support heritage education programmes by making history more accessible. For multi-site estates, digital twins also simplify estate management by providing a centralised, easily navigable repository of information.
We see the digital twin as a lifelong project for our heritage assets, one that continues to provide benefits for as long as it is maintained. They also follow the age old rule of 'you get out what you put in' which makes it difficult to define when a simple model becomes a digital twin. Each building is unique and that is especially true of castles, and therefore each castle deserves a unique digital twin designed specifically for its use. Get in touch today to see how we can help you make the best of technology to help safeguard and improve your building!