Research And Practice Of Virtual Reality Design For Cultural Heritage In The Liaocheng Section Of The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal of China boasts a rich history,abundant historical and cultural heritage,and serves as a testament to China’s historical and cultural legacy.Since its inscription on the World Heritage list in 2014,numerous cultural heritage sites along the canal have gained increased public attention,and efforts to protect the Grand Canal in the new era have commenced.However,the preservation of the Grand Canal’s cultural heritage is still in its infancy,and the majority of heritage sites face precarious circumstances.In the contemporary digital era,digital preservation has emerged as a crucial approach to safeguarding the Grand Canal’s cultural heritage.Both tangible cultural assets,such as ancient locks and buildings that are immovable and susceptible to damage,and intangible cultural heritage confronting challenges of transmission,can be effectively protected through digital technologies like virtual reality.Consequently,developing ways to present the Grand Canal’s cultural heritage to the public through digital means has become a vital aspect of its digital preservation.Liaocheng is a crucial node city along the Grand Canal and was once one of the nine major commercial ports,boasting numerous historical and cultural relics.However,due to the dispersed locations of these cultural heritage sites along the canal,visiting them individually poses a challenge.Additionally,some of these sites have been neglected for many years.Consequently,the graduation project "VR Cultural Heritage Tour of Liaocheng" focuses on the cultural heritage sites that showcase the unique characteristics of the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal.Integration of graphic materials,digital creative design practice with the help of virtual reality,graphic rendering and other digital technology tools to produce interactive,educational and easily disseminated practice projects.Catering to the public’s aesthetic and cognitive needs,this project contributes to the protection and revitalization of the invaluable historical and cultural heritage sites along the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal,promoting their preservation,inheritance,and utilization.This paper focuses on the digital preservation of cultural heritage,specifically on revitalizing the cultural heritage of the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal through virtual reality.The paper is divided into four main sections:1.A segmented discussion of cultural heritage and virtual reality,examining the unique role of virtual reality in preserving and utilizing cultural heritage.This section offers initial theoretical support for the design of a virtual reality project for the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal.2.An analysis of the overview and current status of digital preservation for the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal,as well as a breakdown of its cultural heritage components.Appropriate digital preservation strategies are proposed.3.By utilizing a questionnaire survey and case analysis,combined with the geographical characteristics of the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal,specific virtual reality design strategies are analyzed.Research is conducted on design principles and methods to provide theoretical support for design practice.4.Employing corresponding computer technology,an immersive virtual reality system for the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal is developed through artistic design.In summary,this paper clarifies relevant concepts and offers a detailed analysis of the cultural heritage of the Liaocheng section of the Grand Canal.It also explores virtual reality creation methods for this cultural heritage.The hope is that this paper will contribute to the theoretical and practical research of digital preservation for canal cultural heritage.