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NEWS
CyArk and Google team up for virtual reality tours of remote World Heritage sites
POSTED 30 Apr 2018 . BY Tom Anstey
In the VR experiences, visitors can virtually walk down corridors, seeing examples of damage done by past incidents
CyArk – the non-profit foundation dedicated to digitally capturing and preserving cultural heritage sites around the world – has teamed with Google's Arts and Culture project to allow people to explore remote world heritage sites in virtual reality.

Founded in 2003, the non-profit organisation uses cutting-edge technologies to create detailed 3D representations of significant cultural heritage sites before they’re damaged or destroyed by natural disasters, conflicts or the passage of time.

To create the representations that help preserve these sites for the future, CyArk uses an advanced system of laser scanners to mark millions of points that create an almost perfect 3D data set, which can then be used to create a solid 3D model.



Teaming with Google, CyArk has made its data library broadly accessible to the public, using the new Open Heritage site to distribute data on 27 important historical sites.

In the VR experiences, visitors can virtually walk down corridors, seeing examples of damage done by past incidents. Each experience is narrated, with additional videos available for the scanning conservation process. Included among the opening selections are the Bagan temples in Myanmar, the city of Ayutthaya in Thailand, and cliff-side cities in Mesa Verde.

"CyArk has accomplished some incredible things in the 15 years since it was started, capturing data on hundreds of sites on all seven continents, empowering local stakeholders with better information to make decisions about the sites they manage in order to safeguard them for future generations, and now providing access to these incredible sites to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection," said John Ristevski, CEO of CyArk.

"These recent projects start to deliver on the full promise that Ben and Barbara Kacyra envisaged when they founded CyArk 15 years ago and with the launch of our Open Heritage initiative we now get to unlock the potential of this data fully by putting it into the hands of others.

"There is an incredible power in sharing this information with a broad community and we can’t wait to see what they do with it."

For more on CyArk, Attractions Management spoke to vice president Elizabeth Lee in its Q2 2015 edition. To read online for free, click here.
CyArk uses an advanced system of laser scanners to mark millions of points that create an almost perfect 3D data set
CyArk has mapped hundreds of sites around the world
CyArk uses multiple technologies to record heritage sites
RELATED STORIES
  Project ANQA seeks support to document Middle East heritage sites under threat from ISIS


Heritage preservation specialists CyArk and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are seeking government and private assistance for the emergency documentation of some of the Middle East’s most endangered cultural heritage sites.
  Crowdsourced heritage preservation scheme Project Mosul goes global


Project Mosul – a heritage preservation and restoration project that initially focused on the Mosul Museum in Iraq – has been rechristened Rekrei after the team behind the crowdsourcing scheme took their efforts to a global level.
  CyArk summit brings heritage minds together to combat destruction


Reaching its conclusion yesterday (21 October), the CyArk 500 annual summit has brought together top names from across the heritage sector to discuss future strategy and trends in Berlin.
  Former UNESCO director calls on governments to prevent heritage desolation by ISIS


Heritage expert and former director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, Francesco Bandarin, has called on the heritage sector and the governments that support it to increase efforts to end wilful annihilation of historic sites by the likes of ISIS.
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Mubadala makes €1 billion bid for Pierre and Vacances
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed €1 billion offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
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NEWS
CyArk and Google team up for virtual reality tours of remote World Heritage sites
POSTED 30 Apr 2018 . BY Tom Anstey
In the VR experiences, visitors can virtually walk down corridors, seeing examples of damage done by past incidents
CyArk – the non-profit foundation dedicated to digitally capturing and preserving cultural heritage sites around the world – has teamed with Google's Arts and Culture project to allow people to explore remote world heritage sites in virtual reality.

Founded in 2003, the non-profit organisation uses cutting-edge technologies to create detailed 3D representations of significant cultural heritage sites before they’re damaged or destroyed by natural disasters, conflicts or the passage of time.

To create the representations that help preserve these sites for the future, CyArk uses an advanced system of laser scanners to mark millions of points that create an almost perfect 3D data set, which can then be used to create a solid 3D model.



Teaming with Google, CyArk has made its data library broadly accessible to the public, using the new Open Heritage site to distribute data on 27 important historical sites.

In the VR experiences, visitors can virtually walk down corridors, seeing examples of damage done by past incidents. Each experience is narrated, with additional videos available for the scanning conservation process. Included among the opening selections are the Bagan temples in Myanmar, the city of Ayutthaya in Thailand, and cliff-side cities in Mesa Verde.

"CyArk has accomplished some incredible things in the 15 years since it was started, capturing data on hundreds of sites on all seven continents, empowering local stakeholders with better information to make decisions about the sites they manage in order to safeguard them for future generations, and now providing access to these incredible sites to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection," said John Ristevski, CEO of CyArk.

"These recent projects start to deliver on the full promise that Ben and Barbara Kacyra envisaged when they founded CyArk 15 years ago and with the launch of our Open Heritage initiative we now get to unlock the potential of this data fully by putting it into the hands of others.

"There is an incredible power in sharing this information with a broad community and we can’t wait to see what they do with it."

For more on CyArk, Attractions Management spoke to vice president Elizabeth Lee in its Q2 2015 edition. To read online for free, click here.
CyArk uses an advanced system of laser scanners to mark millions of points that create an almost perfect 3D data set
CyArk has mapped hundreds of sites around the world
CyArk uses multiple technologies to record heritage sites
RELATED STORIES
Project ANQA seeks support to document Middle East heritage sites under threat from ISIS


Heritage preservation specialists CyArk and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are seeking government and private assistance for the emergency documentation of some of the Middle East’s most endangered cultural heritage sites.
Crowdsourced heritage preservation scheme Project Mosul goes global


Project Mosul – a heritage preservation and restoration project that initially focused on the Mosul Museum in Iraq – has been rechristened Rekrei after the team behind the crowdsourcing scheme took their efforts to a global level.
CyArk summit brings heritage minds together to combat destruction


Reaching its conclusion yesterday (21 October), the CyArk 500 annual summit has brought together top names from across the heritage sector to discuss future strategy and trends in Berlin.
Former UNESCO director calls on governments to prevent heritage desolation by ISIS


Heritage expert and former director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, Francesco Bandarin, has called on the heritage sector and the governments that support it to increase efforts to end wilful annihilation of historic sites by the likes of ISIS.
MORE NEWS
Mubadala makes €1 billion bid for Pierre and Vacances
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed €1 billion offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
QubicaAMF UK

QubicaAMF is the largest and most innovative bowling equipment provider with 600 employees worldwi [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
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