Built Heritage Modelling and Visualisation: the potential to engage with issues of heritage value and wider participation

Modelling and visualisation of the built heritage is an area where the use of digital tools and techniques have become pervasive. This extends across all stages and aspects of heritage projects, and has come to include the culture of data pertaining to physical objects and environments, the subsequent uses to which that data may be put, and the manner in which stakeholder groups engage in debate, discussion and participatory decision-making. This paper provides a critical discussion of the implications of these developments and the associated technologies, and argues that what might appear to be ‘stages’ of a project should be regarded as a cycle, which embeds social and qualitative aspects of the built heritage as key components. The paper aims to contribute to the debate regarding how we can embrace developing technologies within heritage study, and how application of the technology can help to foster deeper engagement in heritage, and across society.