Beyond Digital Twins: 3D Gaussian Splatting, Game Engines and Crossmedia Cultural Heritage Representations

This paper explores the use of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) for cultural heritage representation, integrating real-time game engines to create immersive cross-media experiences. Using a historic Hakka mansion in Hong Kong as a case study, the research examines the technical and aesthetic challenges of 3DGS, particularly its limitations in lighting, geometry accuracy, and artifact generation. By embracing these constraints, the project investigates new modes of representing historical spaces beyond traditional digital twins. The study highlights how 3DGS, combined with SLAM-based scanning and game engine workflows, can offer novel approaches to interactive storytelling, site documentation, and artistic reinterpretation in digital heritage preservation and other use cases.