Combining 3D models with an institutional repository

Abstract

The relationship between the Departments of Architecture and Library Services, resulted in common ground for populating the University of Pretoria’s Institutional Repository, UPSpace. Interest in Google Earth’s 3D mapping and Google Sketchup’s modeling capabilities led to an assignment for the 3rd year Architecture students to use these applications in creating 3D models geo-referenced into Google Earth. Main campus buildings of the University of Pretoria were selected. Buildings were allocated to students. Photo’s were taken and information gathered on the function of the buildings. Buildings modelled in Sketchup, and rendered using Artlantis were uploaded onto the Google Earth platform. As part of the ‘Model your city campaign’, Pretoria was registered, thus becoming part of Google Earth’s geo-references virtual world. Being able to accommodate multimedia material on UP Space, a team of personnel from the Library and the Architecture Department was formed. Adhering to the policies set for the University of Pretoria’s Institutional Repository, UPSpace, formats, standards and metadata were defined and the items uploaded. A strategy was formed on the three dimensional assets that needed to be linked to existing building data on campus buildings. Tacit knowledge was contributed by lecturers, and some more related material on the Campus buildings was digitized, uploaded, mapped or linked on UP Space.