Sonic Verisimilitude in Virtual Heritage: Lessons from Two Decades of PLACE-Hampi

Abstract Over nearly two decades of exhibition, PLACE-Hampi has provided a rare longitudinal study in spatial audio for virtual heritage. This article examines how the project’s foundational principle of sonic verisimilitude, defined as the precise correspondence between acoustic and visual space, continues to shape contemporary immersive practice. By tracing the evolution of PLACE-Hampi from its 2006 first-order ambisonic implementation to its latest experimental recontextualization within modern game-engine environments, the study demonstrates that audiovisual coherence, rather than technological complexity or ambisonic order alone, most informs perceptual realism and audience engagement. Drawing on field recordings, system documentation, and both quantitative and qualitative audience data, the article positions sonic verisimilitude within a broader discourse on spatial audio’s role in cultural representation and curatorial practice. Emerging technologies such as AI-assisted production, real-time acoustic modeling, and personalized binaural rendering are discussed in relation to long-term preservation and ethical practice. The findings suggest that sonic verisimilitude functions not only as a technical criterion but as a design ethic and an epistemology of presence, linking sound, place, and cultural meaning across a changing technological landscape.