Erik Champion
Biographic Data
| ID | 3782828 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Erik Champion |
| GIVEN NAMES | Erik |
| FAMILY NAME | Champion |
| SIGNATURE | CHAMPION E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Curtin University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5362-6176 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 37 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Towards a human-centered evaluation of 3D Gaussian Splatting for cultural heritage visualization
Three-dimensional Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) enables the high-fidelity reconstruction and rapid rendering of physical objects and spaces while producing highly portable files, enhancing immersive 3D cultural heritage visualizations. Although existing quality metrics demonstrate technical excellence in encoding accuracy and perceptual quality, stakeholders’ perspectives on this technology and their willingness to adopt it remain largely unexplored.…
Cultural Play at a Distance: Post-Covid Serious Heritage Games
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges for the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) sector, including drastically reduced visitation, constrained funding, and pressure to increase the amount and richness of digital rather than physical interaction. The authors draw upon explorative projects to examine the potential of serious games, augmented and virtual reality, and community-led design to address GLAM sector challenges ra…
Heritage Interpretation and Accessibility Through 360° Panoramic Tours: The Understory Art Trail and the Subiaco Hotel
This paper examines how 360-degree panoramic tours can enhance heritage promotion, accessibility, and engagement, illustrated through two case studies: the Understory Art and Nature Trail in Northcliffe and the Subiaco Hotel in Perth, Western Australia. The Understory Art Trail was deployed in Google Street View to deliver an interactive, virtual walkthrough of outdoor art installations. This made the site accessible to a geographically diverse g…
Towards a National Data Architecture for Cultural Collections: Designing the Australian Cultural Data Engine
This article summarises the aims, methods, information architecture, outputs, and innovations of the Australian Cultural Data Engine (ACD-Engine), a project that harnesses leading cultural databases to build bridges to research, industry, and government. The project investigates digital heritage collections, data ontologies, and interoperability, building an information architecture to enhance the open sharing of Australian cultural data. Working…
Game Mods: Design, Theory and Criticism
Are games worthy of academic attention? Can they be used effectively in the classroom, in the research laboratory, as an innovative design tool, as a persuasive political weapon? Game Mods: Design Theory and Criticism aims to answer these and more questions. It features chapters by authors chosen from around the world, representing fields as diverse as architecture, ethnography, puppetry, cultural studies, music education, interaction design and …
Assassin’s Creed‹ in the Classroom: History’s Playground or a Stab in the Dark?
The open world role-playing Assassin’s Creed video game series is one of the most successful series of all time, praised for its in-depth use of historical characters and events, compelling graphics, and addictive gameplay. Assassin’s Creed games offer up the possibility of exploring history, mythology, and heritage immersively, graphically, and imaginatively. This collection of essays by architects archaeologists and historiansexplores the learn…
Exploring Historical Australian Expeditions with Time-Layered Cultural Maps
The Australian Time Layered Cultural Map platform was created to help digital humanities scholars investigate how online geospatial tools could provide exemplars to their humanities colleagues on how historical collections and cultural data could be extended and re-examined with geospatial tools. The project discussed here investigated how Recogito/TMT could effectively extract spatial and temporal data from pure text-based historical information…
Outside Inn: Exploring the Heritage of a Historic Hotel through 360-Panoramas
This research project investigates the potential of 360-panorama tours to improve the situated and contextual interpretation, virtual visitation, and spatial understanding of recorded or simulated built heritage sites. Our chosen case study was the Subiaco Hotel, a significant heritage building designed by Summerhayes Architecture, which we documented using 360-degree photographs and linked with other media to create an interactive 360-panorama t…
Playing with the Past: Into the Future
The second edition of this monograph reviews recent games and learning environments, with provocative dialogue of new and emerging promises and challenges.
Teaching the Middle Ages Through Modern Games: Using, Modding and Creating Games for Education and Impact
Alchemy and Archives, Swords, Spells, and Castles: Medieval-modding Skyrim
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has great potential as a teaching and learning tool. The world of Skyrim, although sometimes labelled pseudo-medieval, can aim for a level of historical accuracy comparable to many scholarly digital 3D reconstruction projects. These types of projects are now widely accepted as a vehicle for a new way of thinking about old topics, and as a valuable prompt for engaging students. The advantage of using Skyrim is that the hist…
Rethinking Virtual Places
"How would the humanities change if we grappled with the ways in which digital and virtual places are designed, experienced, and critiqued? In Rethinking Virtual Places, Erik M. Champion draws from the fields of computational sciences and other place-related disciplines to argue for a more central role for virtual space in the humanities. For instance, recent developments in neuroscience could improve our understanding of how people experience, s…
A Web GIS-Based Integration of 3D Digital Models with Linked Open Data for Cultural Heritage Exploration
In recent years, considerable efforts have been made by cultural heritage institutions across the globe to digitise cultural heritage sites, artifacts, historical maps, etc. for digital preservation and online representation. On the other hand, ample research projects and studies have been published that demonstrate the great capabilities of web-geographic information systems (web-GIS) for the dissemination and online representation of cultural h…
Survey of 3D digital heritage repositories and platforms
Despite the increasing number of three-dimensional (3D) model portals and online repositories catering for digital heritage scholars, students and interested members of the general public, there are very few recent academic publications that offer a critical analysis when reviewing the relative potential of these portals and online repositories. Solid reviews of the features and functions they offer are insufficient; there is also a lack of expla…
A Comparative Evaluation of Geospatial Semantic Web Frameworks for Cultural Heritage
Recently, many Resource Description Framework (RDF) data generation tools have been developed to convert geospatial and non-geospatial data into RDF data. Furthermore, there are several interlinking frameworks that find semantically equivalent geospatial resources in related RDF data sources. However, many existing Linked Open Data sources are currently sparsely interlinked. Also, many RDF generation and interlinking frameworks require a solid kn…
A Survey of Geospatial Semantic Web for Cultural Heritage
The amount of digital cultural heritage data produced by cultural heritage institutions is growing rapidly. Digital cultural heritage repositories have therefore become an efficient and effective way to disseminate and exploit digital cultural heritage data. However, many digital cultural heritage repositories worldwide share technical challenges such as data integration and interoperability among national and regional digital cultural heritage r…
To 3D or Not 3D: Choosing a Photogrammetry Workflow for Cultural Heritage Groups
The 3D reconstruction of real-world heritage objects using either a laser scanner or 3D modelling software is typically expensive and requires a high level of expertise. Image-based 3D modelling software, on the other hand, offers a cheaper alternative, which can handle this task with relative ease. There also exists free and open source (FOSS) software, with the potential to deliver quality data for heritage documentation purposes. However, cont…
From photo to 3D to mixed reality: A complete workflow for cultural heritage visualisation and experience
Critical Gaming: Interactive History and Virtual Heritage
This book explains how designing, playing and modifying computer games, and understanding the theory behind them, can strengthen the area of digital humanities. This book aims to help digital humanities scholars understand both the issues and also advantages of game design, as well as encouraging them to extend the field of computer game studies, particularly in their teaching and research in the field of virtual heritage. By looking at re-occurr…
Evaluating presence in cultural heritage projects
This paper surveys current notions of social and cultural presence as they may help the evaluation of cultural heritage projects. We argue that cultural heritage requires specialized evaluation, as key issues both connect and separate the aims of presence researchers and cultural heritage experts. To support this argument, three case studies of virtual heritage evaluations are summarized, and recommendations made as to how experimental design and…
Otherness of Place: Game-based Interaction and Learning in Virtual Heritage Projects
When we design digital places that represent the past using media such as game engines, it is all too easy to be taken in by the lure of technology and forget to concentrate on enhancing the user experience. In the case of virtual heritage, there are several important issues in the creation, construction or revocation of places of cultural significance. In this paper I will argue that while computer games do appear to be more successful learning …
Dialing Up the Past
B1 - Research Book Chapters
The Digital Society and Its Enemies: A Critique of 'On the Internet'
In his recent publication On the Internet Professor Hubert Dreyfus makes some interesting criticisms on the effectiveness of Internet-based distance learning and on the use of the Internet in general. There is still relatively little written on the philosophical and social implications of the Internet that is both clear and cohesive. Professor Dreyfus' book is exemplary in this regard, and it has attracted many followers extolling its virtues. Ho…
From photo to 3D to mixed reality: A complete workflow for cultural heritage visualisation and experience
To 3D or Not 3D: Choosing a Photogrammetry Workflow for Cultural Heritage Groups
The 3D reconstruction of real-world heritage objects using either a laser scanner or 3D modelling software is typically expensive and requires a high level of expertise. Image-based 3D modelling software, on the other hand, offers a cheaper alternative, which can handle this task with relative ease. There also exists free and open source (FOSS) software, with the potential to deliver quality data for heritage documentation purposes. However, cont…
Otherness of Place: Game-based Interaction and Learning in Virtual Heritage Projects
When we design digital places that represent the past using media such as game engines, it is all too easy to be taken in by the lure of technology and forget to concentrate on enhancing the user experience. In the case of virtual heritage, there are several important issues in the creation, construction or revocation of places of cultural significance. In this paper I will argue that while computer games do appear to be more successful learning …
Evaluating presence in cultural heritage projects
This paper surveys current notions of social and cultural presence as they may help the evaluation of cultural heritage projects. We argue that cultural heritage requires specialized evaluation, as key issues both connect and separate the aims of presence researchers and cultural heritage experts. To support this argument, three case studies of virtual heritage evaluations are summarized, and recommendations made as to how experimental design and…
Outside Inn: Exploring the Heritage of a Historic Hotel through 360-Panoramas
This research project investigates the potential of 360-panorama tours to improve the situated and contextual interpretation, virtual visitation, and spatial understanding of recorded or simulated built heritage sites. Our chosen case study was the Subiaco Hotel, a significant heritage building designed by Summerhayes Architecture, which we documented using 360-degree photographs and linked with other media to create an interactive 360-panorama t…
The Digital Society and Its Enemies: A Critique of 'On the Internet'
In his recent publication On the Internet Professor Hubert Dreyfus makes some interesting criticisms on the effectiveness of Internet-based distance learning and on the use of the Internet in general. There is still relatively little written on the philosophical and social implications of the Internet that is both clear and cohesive. Professor Dreyfus' book is exemplary in this regard, and it has attracted many followers extolling its virtues. Ho…
Dialing Up the Past
B1 - Research Book Chapters
Otherness of Place: Game-based Interaction and Learning in Virtual Heritage Projects
When we design digital places that represent the past using media such as game engines, it is all too easy to be taken in by the lure of technology and forget to concentrate on enhancing the user experience. In the case of virtual heritage, there are several important issues in the creation, construction or revocation of places of cultural significance. In this paper I will argue that while computer games do appear to be more successful learning …
Evaluating presence in cultural heritage projects
This paper surveys current notions of social and cultural presence as they may help the evaluation of cultural heritage projects. We argue that cultural heritage requires specialized evaluation, as key issues both connect and separate the aims of presence researchers and cultural heritage experts. To support this argument, three case studies of virtual heritage evaluations are summarized, and recommendations made as to how experimental design and…
Critical Gaming: Interactive History and Virtual Heritage
This book explains how designing, playing and modifying computer games, and understanding the theory behind them, can strengthen the area of digital humanities. This book aims to help digital humanities scholars understand both the issues and also advantages of game design, as well as encouraging them to extend the field of computer game studies, particularly in their teaching and research in the field of virtual heritage. By looking at re-occurr…
A Survey of Geospatial Semantic Web for Cultural Heritage
The amount of digital cultural heritage data produced by cultural heritage institutions is growing rapidly. Digital cultural heritage repositories have therefore become an efficient and effective way to disseminate and exploit digital cultural heritage data. However, many digital cultural heritage repositories worldwide share technical challenges such as data integration and interoperability among national and regional digital cultural heritage r…
To 3D or Not 3D: Choosing a Photogrammetry Workflow for Cultural Heritage Groups
The 3D reconstruction of real-world heritage objects using either a laser scanner or 3D modelling software is typically expensive and requires a high level of expertise. Image-based 3D modelling software, on the other hand, offers a cheaper alternative, which can handle this task with relative ease. There also exists free and open source (FOSS) software, with the potential to deliver quality data for heritage documentation purposes. However, cont…
From photo to 3D to mixed reality: A complete workflow for cultural heritage visualisation and experience
Survey of 3D digital heritage repositories and platforms
Despite the increasing number of three-dimensional (3D) model portals and online repositories catering for digital heritage scholars, students and interested members of the general public, there are very few recent academic publications that offer a critical analysis when reviewing the relative potential of these portals and online repositories. Solid reviews of the features and functions they offer are insufficient; there is also a lack of expla…
A Comparative Evaluation of Geospatial Semantic Web Frameworks for Cultural Heritage
Recently, many Resource Description Framework (RDF) data generation tools have been developed to convert geospatial and non-geospatial data into RDF data. Furthermore, there are several interlinking frameworks that find semantically equivalent geospatial resources in related RDF data sources. However, many existing Linked Open Data sources are currently sparsely interlinked. Also, many RDF generation and interlinking frameworks require a solid kn…
Rethinking Virtual Places
"How would the humanities change if we grappled with the ways in which digital and virtual places are designed, experienced, and critiqued? In Rethinking Virtual Places, Erik M. Champion draws from the fields of computational sciences and other place-related disciplines to argue for a more central role for virtual space in the humanities. For instance, recent developments in neuroscience could improve our understanding of how people experience, s…
A Web GIS-Based Integration of 3D Digital Models with Linked Open Data for Cultural Heritage Exploration
In recent years, considerable efforts have been made by cultural heritage institutions across the globe to digitise cultural heritage sites, artifacts, historical maps, etc. for digital preservation and online representation. On the other hand, ample research projects and studies have been published that demonstrate the great capabilities of web-geographic information systems (web-GIS) for the dissemination and online representation of cultural h…
Playing with the Past: Into the Future
The second edition of this monograph reviews recent games and learning environments, with provocative dialogue of new and emerging promises and challenges.
Teaching the Middle Ages Through Modern Games: Using, Modding and Creating Games for Education and Impact
Alchemy and Archives, Swords, Spells, and Castles: Medieval-modding Skyrim
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has great potential as a teaching and learning tool. The world of Skyrim, although sometimes labelled pseudo-medieval, can aim for a level of historical accuracy comparable to many scholarly digital 3D reconstruction projects. These types of projects are now widely accepted as a vehicle for a new way of thinking about old topics, and as a valuable prompt for engaging students. The advantage of using Skyrim is that the hist…
Assassin’s Creed‹ in the Classroom: History’s Playground or a Stab in the Dark?
The open world role-playing Assassin’s Creed video game series is one of the most successful series of all time, praised for its in-depth use of historical characters and events, compelling graphics, and addictive gameplay. Assassin’s Creed games offer up the possibility of exploring history, mythology, and heritage immersively, graphically, and imaginatively. This collection of essays by architects archaeologists and historiansexplores the learn…
Exploring Historical Australian Expeditions with Time-Layered Cultural Maps
The Australian Time Layered Cultural Map platform was created to help digital humanities scholars investigate how online geospatial tools could provide exemplars to their humanities colleagues on how historical collections and cultural data could be extended and re-examined with geospatial tools. The project discussed here investigated how Recogito/TMT could effectively extract spatial and temporal data from pure text-based historical information…
Outside Inn: Exploring the Heritage of a Historic Hotel through 360-Panoramas
This research project investigates the potential of 360-panorama tours to improve the situated and contextual interpretation, virtual visitation, and spatial understanding of recorded or simulated built heritage sites. Our chosen case study was the Subiaco Hotel, a significant heritage building designed by Summerhayes Architecture, which we documented using 360-degree photographs and linked with other media to create an interactive 360-panorama t…
Towards a National Data Architecture for Cultural Collections: Designing the Australian Cultural Data Engine
This article summarises the aims, methods, information architecture, outputs, and innovations of the Australian Cultural Data Engine (ACD-Engine), a project that harnesses leading cultural databases to build bridges to research, industry, and government. The project investigates digital heritage collections, data ontologies, and interoperability, building an information architecture to enhance the open sharing of Australian cultural data. Working…
Game Mods: Design, Theory and Criticism
Are games worthy of academic attention? Can they be used effectively in the classroom, in the research laboratory, as an innovative design tool, as a persuasive political weapon? Game Mods: Design Theory and Criticism aims to answer these and more questions. It features chapters by authors chosen from around the world, representing fields as diverse as architecture, ethnography, puppetry, cultural studies, music education, interaction design and …
Cultural Play at a Distance: Post-Covid Serious Heritage Games
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges for the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) sector, including drastically reduced visitation, constrained funding, and pressure to increase the amount and richness of digital rather than physical interaction. The authors draw upon explorative projects to examine the potential of serious games, augmented and virtual reality, and community-led design to address GLAM sector challenges ra…
Heritage Interpretation and Accessibility Through 360° Panoramic Tours: The Understory Art Trail and the Subiaco Hotel
This paper examines how 360-degree panoramic tours can enhance heritage promotion, accessibility, and engagement, illustrated through two case studies: the Understory Art and Nature Trail in Northcliffe and the Subiaco Hotel in Perth, Western Australia. The Understory Art Trail was deployed in Google Street View to deliver an interactive, virtual walkthrough of outdoor art installations. This made the site accessible to a geographically diverse g…
Towards a human-centered evaluation of 3D Gaussian Splatting for cultural heritage visualization
Three-dimensional Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) enables the high-fidelity reconstruction and rapid rendering of physical objects and spaces while producing highly portable files, enhancing immersive 3D cultural heritage visualizations. Although existing quality metrics demonstrate technical excellence in encoding accuracy and perceptual quality, stakeholders’ perspectives on this technology and their willingness to adopt it remain largely unexplored.…
Computer Science (17 works) · Cultural heritage (14 works) · Archaeology (10 works) · World Wide Web (9 works) · Geography (8 works) · History (8 works) · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage (7 works) · Digital Games and Media (6 works) · Artificial Intelligence (5 works) · Data science (5 works)