Digital Storytelling and 3D Technologies for Visitor Experience and Contested Heritage Preservation

Storytelling techniques significantly enhance the emotional engagement and immersion of virtual heritage experiences when combined with 3D scanning technologies. This study, focusing on the fossilized Indigenous footprints at Australia's Willandra Lakes Region (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), demonstrates that narrative transportation—triggering emotional arousal—deepens visitor connection to contested heritage. The research provides best practice guidelines for using advanced 3D scanning and AR/VR to recreate vulnerable sites, offering a scalable approach to preserve and present fragile cultural landmarks while ensuring authenticity in digital reconstructions.

Little, C., Patterson, D., Skavronskaya, L., Moyle, B., & Bec, A. (2022). Digital Storytelling and 3D Technologies for Visitor Experience and Contested Heritage Preservation. Global Perspectives on Strategic Storytelling in Destination Marketing, 215–229. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3436-9.ch011