Kadek Ananta Satriadi

Human-centred computing researcher specialised in visualisation and spatial computing technologies.

Towards a human-centered evaluation of 3D Gaussian Splatting for cultural heritage visualization

Fadilah Husna Arief, Kadek Ananta Satriadi, Erik Malcolm Champion

Virtual Archaeology Review. Online. 2026. Publication type: full paper.

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. A human-centered evaluation is therefore needed to assess the technology’s practical viability in cultural heritage preservation contexts. Using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews supported by static and interactive visualizations of Puri Klungkung, a Balinese palace in Indonesia, we collected quantitative and qualitative data from eight local experts in history, archaeology, vernacular architecture, and heritage conservation. Our results suggest that experts evaluate 3DGS and photogrammetry differently in both static and interactive visualizations. 3DGS was consistently preferred for close-up views containing complex elements, such as vegetation, water, and architectural details, and was perceived as providing better detail preservation, visual quality, and geometric accuracy. The two techniques received comparable ratings for their representation of materiality and spatial perception. Photogrammetry was preferred for scholarly dissemination because of its greater geometric accuracy and level of detail. By contrast, 3DGS in its current form, appears better suited to public-facing projects, where its visual elements generate more photorealistic renderings, although its geometric accuracy may be lower. Considering the target users’ needs from the outset of the project is therefore important when selecting the most appropriate visualization technique. The thematic analysis yielded recommendations concerning applicability, user familiarity, visual properties, interactivity, and practical implementation, guiding effective visualization of historical Hindu cultural heritage sites in South and Southeast Asia.

DOI: https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/var/article/view/25551

Tags: 3D Gaussian Splatting, cultural heritage, visualisation, human-centred evaluation

A screen capture of the visualisation probe we used in the interview. It compares photogrammetry and 3DGS representations in multiple camera angles.

Link to github repository: https://github.com/KadekSatriadi/3dgs-sketchfab-vizprobe

Acknowledgement

We thank the Indonesian Ministry of Culture in Jakarta for allowing access to Puri Klungkung photogrammetry data and the 3D model. This work is supported by Monash eResearch capabilities, including High Performance Computing (HPC), and is within the context of the Bali Digital Heritage Initiative.
Arief, F. H., Satriadi, K. A., & Champion, E. M. (2026). Towards a human-centered evaluation of 3D Gaussian Splatting for cultural heritage visualization. Virtual Archaeology Review. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2024.25551

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