Capturing the Floating World: Digital Documentation of a Kelong in Singapore

Abstract. This paper presents the digital documentation of Kelong E63, one of Singapore’s last remaining kelongs, or offshore fishing platform. As a dynamic, vernacular structure, the kelong was documented using a hybrid methodology combining LiDAR, photogrammetry, sonar, 360° video, and other spatial media, incorporating knowledge gained from traditional fieldwork. Technical and environmental challenges such as tidal shifts and structural instability required an adaptive, multi-phase approach to digital documentation. Beyond structural accuracy, the project aimed to capture the intangible rhythms of kelong life. Adopting a transmedia perspective, the project integrated spatial datasets with oral histories, archives, and media, allowing user-driven exploration of the site. This work-in-progress demonstrates how immersive digital tools can preserve not just the technical form, but the lived experience and “aura” of maritime heritage.