Digital Journey to the World War I Frontline from Virginia Tech Team
Researchers are carrying the historic Hill 80 trench fortress, which was closed due to residential construction in Belgium, into the future with a web-based 3D experience.
The ARIES team at the Virginia Tech library has developed an interactive 3D experience that digitalizes the World War I German fortification Hill 80 in Belgium and the excavations conducted there, making them available for users to examine.
Digital Preservation Effort Begins
The Applied Research in Immersive Experiences and Simulations team within the Virginia Tech University Libraries has undertaken a comprehensive project to digitally preserve a historic site.
Historic Trench Remains
The German stronghold and trench fortress named Hill 80 is located near the Wijtschate region of Belgium and was captured during the 1917 Battle of Messines.
Rescue Excavation and Scope
The Dig Hill 80 project was conducted as a rescue excavation led by Flemish archaeologist Simon Verdegem, funded in late 2017, and carried out between April and June 2018.
Recording Before Residential Project
All data and artifacts obtained during the excavations, which were carried out before a housing development project started in the area, were meticulously documented by the ARIES team.
Interactive 3D Experience
Thanks to the web-based three-dimensional environment, users can navigate the area, interact with 3D models of artifacts, and listen to expert commentaries.
Release Date
Combining high-resolution orthophotos, photogrammetric models, and structured light scans, this digital project is scheduled to launch at the end of the fall 2026 term.