Engineering a WebGL Virtual Museum for Digital Cultural Preservation

Overview

This project represents the convergence of visual computing, cultural studies, and modern web technologies. The goal was to create an immersive 3D experience that preserves and showcases the artwork of Byron Gálvez in a virtual museum environment.

Technical Implementation

3D Scene Architecture

The museum is built using Three.js, a powerful JavaScript library that abstracts WebGL complexity while providing full access to advanced rendering features.

// Scene initialization
const scene = new THREE.Scene();
const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(75, window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, 0.1, 1000);
const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ antialias: true });

Spatial Navigation System

The navigation system implements first-person camera controls with collision detection, allowing visitors to walk through the virtual gallery naturally.

Performance Optimizations

Level of Detail (LOD) for distant objects

Frustum culling for off-screen geometry

Texture compression for faster loading

Research Context

This project was developed as part of an academic research initiative on digital heritage preservation, exploring how web technologies can democratize access to cultural artifacts.

Future Work

Multi-user support for guided tours

VR headset compatibility

Audio narration integration