Gaussian Splatting

Gaussian splatting has quickly become one of the most promising capture techniques for heritage work — and this is an ongoing exploration of where it fits. Unlike traditional photogrammetry, which is slow to capture and heavy to process, splatting turns ordinary video into explorable, photorealistic 3D scenes with a fraction of the effort.

Most of these were captured with consumer-grade gear — a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for handheld interiors and tight detail, and a DJI drone for exteriors and scale — and even with that lightweight kit, the results are consistently strong. The speed and versatility are the point: a single walkthrough or flight can yield a complete scene, making it realistic to document sites that would never justify the time cost of full photogrammetry.

For heritage conservation, that changes the economics of capture. Buildings, interiors, and objects that might otherwise go undocumented become quick to record and easy to revisit. The collection below is a growing set of experiments — each a live, explorable splat capturing a place worth keeping.