Virtual Tours in Ouro Preto, Brazil: A Tool for Cultural Heritage Preservation

Abstract. This paper presents a case study on how digital documentation, specifically a data-driven approach to heritage conservation, is preserving the history of Ouro Preto, Brazil, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The methodology, which blends laser scanning, photogrammetry, and 360º virtual tours, is designed to support the documentation, education, management, maintenance, and restoration of cultural sites. Ouro Preto, with its numerous 18th-century art-filled churches spanning the city, justly gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1980. However, the recent destruction of cherished heritage sites in Brazil and across the globe has underscored the urgent need for new approaches to conservation. Ouro Preto itself faces challenges such as material deterioration and the loss of historical features. To address these issues, the project "OURO PRETO FOREVER" was established. This collaborative effort between Brazilian universities and technology companies enabled the use of laser scanning, photogrammetry, and 360° image capture for the creation of virtual tours and point clouds of 24 Baroque churches and chapels. The resulting point clouds and immersive models were made freely accessible to the public and are currently utilized in professional training for conservation and restoration. This initiative demonstrates that digital documentation is essential not only to enable the community to access this cultural heritage in the present but also to safeguard it for future generations.