Realistic and Interactive Virtual Museum Representation Using 3D Gaussian Splatting

Abstract. This study presents the development of a virtual museum utilizing 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), a novel real-time rendering technique, and evaluates its experiential quality and effectiveness in comparison with a conventional 360-degree panoramic image (360° image)–based system. While 360° images offer advantages such as high visual clarity and ease of implementation, they are inherently limited in terms of user mobility and interaction, which restrict their immersive potential. In contrast, 3DGS enables robust scene reconstruction even in complex exhibition environments, supporting free navigation and interaction, and is therefore considered a promising approach for immersive virtual experiences. Two systems are implemented based on identical exhibition content, and a comprehensive user evaluation is conducted incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results, measured through the Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ) and additional user perception metrics, indicate that the 3DGS-based system achieves statistically significant higher scores across all IPQ items. Furthermore, participants report greater satisfaction, intention to reuse, preference for widespread use, and motivation to visit. Despite minor limitations in image sharpness and text readability, users generally perceive the visual quality of the 3DGS system to be acceptable—sometimes even impressive—and show a clear preference for its interactive and participatory features. These findings suggest that, with further advancements in rendering quality and optimization, 3DGS holds strong potential as a viable alternative for future virtual museum implementations.