About the DFG 3D-Viewer
While web-based GIS functionalities for processing and visualizing 2D geometries can be realized with standardized services and formats, corresponding techniques for managing and analyzing 3D data have not yet been established. Similarly, previous web-based 3D viewers such as sketchfab.com or 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com are commercial offers and provide neither legal security nor verified long-term data availability or scientific reproducibility. In addition, there are no commonly accepted minimum standards for 3D model documentation and licensing.
Since 2021, the German Research Foundation (DFG) has been supporting the development of the DFG 3D Viewer as part of the ‘e-Research Technologies’ funding guideline. This development of a digital 3D viewer infrastructure for historical 3D reconstructions is designed as a permanent infrastructure offering. On the one hand, the DFG 3D Viewer enables sustainable accessibility and archiving of raw data sets and meta-information, and on the other hand, by generating 3D web models from common data types, it enables collaboration and specialised discourse on the virtual model.
