Cultural Heritage (CH) is in the focus of the European Union as motor for employment, economic drive and development. In order to guarantee longevity & usability of European Heritage it is inevitable to keep up with the requirements of society like new technology and digitisation. The Covid19 crisis added some urgency to the issue as training organisations strongly suffer from restrictions and new rules, which are threatening traditional education and training activities. Especially in regards to hands-on-training, where instructors need to get really close to learners in order to teach practical skills. The consortium of VI-TRAIN takes on the challenge of developing innovative training for traditional/threatened crafts and handling of building damages, which will boost the digitisation of training in (built) Cultural Heritage. A big focus is given to crafts that are almost nowhere trained any more. Lots of those crafts do need a lot of experience and guidance by experienced craftspeople. This training in particular will be boosted by various digitisation support. The anticipated objectives of VI-TRAIN are: • to identify appropriate means of distance learning for the training of craftspeople (manual work), • to identify appropriate means of online cooperation in training, regarding functionality, GDPR and data security • to derive success criteria for highly accepted digital solutions • to develop and test a virtual/3D-crafts training system by using sensors and VR/AR • to develop and test a virtual/3D-buidling damage identification training system • to investigate and test options overcoming restrictions, e.g. move sickness, • to develop a train-the-trainer system for application of selected tools in training of traditional crafts Participants of the courses developed in VI-TRAIN can obtain a European certificate by undergoing an certification process provided by ECQA (www.ecqa.org), which is an internationally active organisation specialised in certification of skills and competences. VI-TRAIN nicely enriches the offer of The European Heritage Academy (EHA), which will be in charge of delivering VI-TRAIN training courses after completion of the project. EHA is situated at Charterhouse Mauerbach, the future EU Competence and Community Centre for Architectural Conservation, being set up during INCREAS – Innovation and Creative Solutions for Cultural Heritage, a Pilot project for Cultural and Creative Industries, Finance, Learning, Innovation and Patenting for Cultural and Creative Industries - (FLIP) for CCIs-2
The overall objective of VI-TRAIN-Crafts was to identify specific needs for training manual work of traditional building crafts virtually. This contained investigation of pre-conditions of using virtual means, requirements for appropriate use in regards to GDPR and data security as well as business implication of using these means in daily work. A major objective was to clarify conditions for virtual training of manual craft work under Covid19 restrictions, while developing and testing virtual/3D-crafts training systems. The consortium started by researched existing virtual training examples for manual craft works and appropriate tools for online collaboration. Based on results – in case of virtual training examples only ideas what can be done – the consortium developed selected scenarios and tested ECQA Skills cards plus training materials. As required for running such training courses in future, the consortium adjusted and conducted a Train-The-Trainer course. Finally, the consortium investigated and tested options overcoming restrictions, like motion sickness, hesitation to use digital means in VR/AR for craftspeople and building damage inspectors.
Decline of craftsmanship in societies over the last century and availability of mass-production put markets for handmade goods in stress, while traditional trades become dying professions in the EU. This causes serious problems for responsible bodies and owners of historic/traditional buildings in all EU countries, as proper maintenance and architectural conservation depends on the skills of traditional craftspeople. Consortium members being such organisations looking after historic/traditional buildings are facing these challenges, which was confirmed by acquaintances across the EU and the Cultural Heritage Expert Group. VI-TRAIN-Crafts identified, tested and evaluated the potential of virtual training of tradition skills to ease the problem. Curricula for selected scenarios were developed and a training course for Building Damage Inspectors was tested. So experts from anywhere can support maintenance/restoration of historic buildings in the EU without having to leave their workplace or home. The project also adjusted an existing Train-the-Trainer course and gathered statistical data about motion sickness, its implications and possible remedy.