ASI to create 3D documents of tourist sites

Even as the state Tourism Department is yet to catch up with technology to promote tourist destinations, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has already started the exercise.

The ASI is now working on creating digital data of its recently retrieved 2,000 sculptures in Halebid, Hassan
district. It is also working on other Hoysala dynasty sites in Belur, Halebid and Somanathapura.

A senior ASI official on condition of anonymity told DH that apart from working on sculptures, the department was also attempting to create 3D digital documents of sites.

“We have also started the process to digitise brochures and tickets. This is being done to disseminate information faster, better and also save paper. We are also in process of creating scan code facility at destinations, on the lines of Bengaluru’s Tipu Summer Palace, where people can scan the barcode and get all the details of the site on their smart phones,” the official said.

T K Anil Kumar, Secretary, Karnataka Tourism Department admitted that the department was slow in its digitial progress.

He said they were working on creating digitised data and task would be completed in about seven months. The work was entrusted to start-ups.

“We are still workingon creating a virtual tour of sites - which was proposed last year. We are finalising the trails of 20 destinations for this purpose. So far work on Hampi, Lakkundi and Badami is in progress. We are also working on redoing the Tourism Department website on the lines of Kerala and Rajasthan to attract more people and this will take another six months,” Kumar added.

Mohamed Farouk, Director, Indiatourism, Bengaluru, said the Centre was working with the state government to create a virtual 360 degree tour.