Wednesday 22 August 2018

Computing for Social Good 6: Games Team bring history to life at Chester Farm


In a recent article in the Guardian "Can a University rescue a city the local authority fails?" the role of Universities and specifically The University of Northampton in providing social good was discussed. This is part of a series highlighting some of the areas that the computing team are helping, including:

  1. Blockchain and Education
  2. The Big Bang (Northamptonshire)
  3. Games in Education
  4. Inspiring into coding


Taken from the original "Computing experts bring history to life at Chester Farm" https://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/computing-experts-bring-history-to-life-at-chester-farm/ 

A site of significant historical importance that’s hidden from view is being brought to life by an expert team from the University of Northampton.
Chester Farm is the site of a walled Roman town which lies buried beneath fields between the Northamptonshire towns of Wellingborough and Rushden. The land also contains evidence from the Mesolithic, Iron Age and Medieval periods, together with a complex of traditional farm buildings dating back to the 17th century.
While archaeological excavation of the site is slowly revealing the site’s secrets, academics from the University’s computing team have been creating 3D interactive models to help visitors picture how it might have looked.
Games Art Lecturer, Daniel McCaul, has created an Iron Age roundhouse; Graduate Teaching Assistant, Lewis Sanderson, a Saxon building; and Games Art Senior Lecturer, Iain Douglas, an example of a 19th century ironstone quarrying cart.
Iain said: “This was a really fun project for our team and with the growing catalogue of historical projects that we have recreated and put in VR, it’s an area we’re very keen on investing further time into.
“We are also exploring the possibility of providing a larger virtual experience in Chester Farm’s new visitor centre, or perhaps for other historic attractions in the country.”





All views and opinions are the author's and do not necessarily reflected those of any organisation they are associated with. Twitter: @scottturneruon

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