Cross-site evaluation of mobile-web 3D Gaussian Splatting for architectural heritage dissemination

Abstract High-fidelity digital heritage models remain difficult to disseminate through mobile browsers because of asset size, rendering cost, and limited interpretive support. We evaluate a mobile-web 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) workflow across two contrasting architectural-heritage sites: outdoor Wangjiang Tower (UAV-acquired) and indoor Jiangzhou Hall (360° panoramas). Both sites were reconstructed as 3DGS and textured meshes and delivered through a browser viewer with scene navigation, collision-aware movement, and an interpretive annotation layer. The 3DGS assets were reduced from 709 to 33.4 MB and from 1024 to 46.8 MB. Across both sites, 3DGS achieved higher held-out PSNR and SSIM and lower LPIPS than mesh baselines, with similar cross-device runtime patterns; users reported higher perceived visual fidelity and interpretive support, while loading and navigation were comparable. These findings indicate that compact 3DGS assets can support interactive, interpretively supported dissemination of built heritage through ordinary mobile browsers.