ABSTRACT:This paper introduces the aims and early activities of Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage (COSCH), an interdisciplinary European network of experts in the latest optical measuring techniques and electronic imaging applied to documentation of artefacts. COSCH is a forum open to organisations, institutions and companies interested in collaboration within the emerging field of precise spectral and spatial imaging techniques, in physical and chemical sciences applied to cultural heritage objects, as well as in research and applications to conservation and art-historical analysis of such objects. COSCH started in November 2012. Funded by COST, an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, COSCH networking activities enable knowledge exchange and coordination of nationally-funded research on a European level with occasional contribution of experts from other countries. Funding has been made available for four years (2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016). Participation is open to researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including computer scientists and museum professionals, art historians and academics in heritage-related fields. COSCH is a trans-domain Action (TD1201) of the COST Domain Materials, Physics and Nanosciences (MPNS) which facilitates and promotes innovation in material science. The work of COSCH is defined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the COST Office and the Chairman of COSCH. The Memorandum is available from http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/mpns/Actions/TD1201 alongside the latest progress report and other documents. The scientific work draws on earlier and current research of the participants and is organised around the following areas: spectral and spatial object documentation; algorithms and procedures; analysis and restoration of surfaces and objects of material culture; visualisation of cultural heritage objects and its dissemination. Up-to-date information about COSCH activities, including its scientific and training programmes, abstracts of presentations and a list of participants, can all be found on the Action website at http://www.cosch.info.
Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage ( www.COSCH.info ) is a transdomain European Action (TD1201) in the area of Materials, Physics and Nanosciences (MPNS). The Action runs from 2013 to 2017 and benefits from the support of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/mpns/Actions/TD1201 . The Authors are active participants of the COSCH network. They represent different disciplines involved in documentation and conservation of material cultural heritage. COSCH aims to enhance applications of optical measuring techniques and electronic imaging in this area. The paper outlines scientific, theoretical and practical solutions promoted by COSCH. COSCH activities have been organised around six main subjects: (1) spectral object documentation; (2) spatial object documentation; (3) algorithms and procedures; (4) analysis and restoration of cultural heritage surfaces and objects; (5) visualisation of cultural heritage objects and its dissemination; and (6) the semantic development of the COSCH Knowledge Representation. The Authors indicate future work that is needed to resolve the identified scientific, technical and semantic questions, as well as challenges of interdisciplinary communication, to ensure a wider adoption of specialist technologies and enhanced standards in 3D documentation of material cultural heritage — being a basis for its understanding, conservation, restoration, long-term preservation, study, presentation and wide dissemination.
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