https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2084-4174
Stuart studied a combined honours degree in Computer Science and Archaeology at the University of Glasgow and completed his PhD in three dimensional modelling of early medieval sculpted stones there in 2003. His research covers key aspects of digital and critical heritage with a focus on visualisation. Stuart was Co-Investigator for GCRF One Ocean Hub project, Co-Investigator on the AHRC funded Unpath'd Waters Maritime Heritage and Scotland's Rock Art Projects as well as being Co-Director of the HARPS research project on the Isle of Staffa. Previously he has worked with the West of Scotland Archaeology Service and also as Deputy Director at the Archaeology Data Service where he managed a number of major digital heritage research projects funded by JISC, AHRC, the European Union and the NEH. Stuart is a member of the ACHS, ICOMOS, the Institute for Archaeologists and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Digital Heritage, Critical Heritage, Co-Design, Co-Production, Digital Authenticity, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Built Environment, Maritime Heritage, Natural and Cultural Heritage, Heritage and Human Rights, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Creative Response, Audio and Sound in Heritage Contexts.
Unpath'd Waters': Marine and Maritime Collections in the UK - CI, WP Lead, Arts and Humanities Research Council (Swindon), 2021-09-30 to 2024-09-29|Grant, GRANT_NUMBER: AH/W003384/1
See: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/current/discover-and-understand/coastal-and-marine/unpathd-waters/about-unpathd-waters/
A large multi-partner Towards a National Collection Discovery project. GSA worked with community groups to co-design and build a digital immersive experience in Virtual Reality. We co-developed new ways to interact with integrated maritime datasets (natural and cultural), specifically using immersive systems.This included extensive VR co-design with people with visual impairments.
GCRF One Ocean Hub, CI, RP Lead, Natural Environment Research Council (Swindon), 2019-02-13 to 2024-04-30|Grant, GRANT_NUMBER: NE/S008950/1
See: https://oneoceanhub.org/
Co-I for Research Programme 2, Emotionally Connecting with the Ocean. The Hub specifically addresses the challenges and opportunities of South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Fiji and Solomon Islands, and shares knowledge at regional and international levels. The aim is to predict, harness and share equitably environmental, socioeconomic and cultural benefits from ocean conservation and sustainable use.
Design Standards for Place-Based Immersive Experiences (The Digital Laocoon), AHRC, 2017-12-07 to 2018-08-05|Grant, GRANT_NUMBER: AH/R010196/1
Co-Investigator with PI Prof Steve Love, Co-I Dr Matthieu, this was a collaborative project with commercial partners ISO Design. Using the Laocoön Cast in the Mackintosh building as a case study this project aimed to develop a UCD framework for museum AR/VR experiences. See:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiM-9VijV88 .
Historical Archaeology Research Project, Staffa (HARPS) (National Trust for Scotland /Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 2016-19)
Co-Director with the NTS Head of Archaeology, partnered with were the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow. HARPS focused on the integration of multiple datasets with 3D digital records, audio recording and graffiti recording as well as archaeological excavation. See also https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00061lt . Follows from Temple of the Western Main, Staffa and Fingal’s Cave Digital Documentation: (GSA/National Trust for Scotland 2014)
Scotland's Rock Art in context: placement, re-placement and engagement, AHRC 2017-01-01 to 2021-12-31|Grant, GRANT_NUMBER: grant.AH/N00745X/1
Co-I with PI Dr Tertia Barnett (HES/University of Edinburgh) and Co-I Dr Guillaume Robin (University of Edinburgh),( https://www.rockart.scot/ ). This project was an large scale data enhancement project using both community co-production and contemporary social value capture.
Research Engagement through Virtual Immersive Tools for Learning (RevisIt) (AHRC 2016)
PI with Co-I Daisy Abbott, Prof. Kevin Burden & Dr Anastasia Gouseti (University of Hull) and with Dr Lisa Snyder as project partner (UCLA). A Follow on Fund project (following the 2005 AHRB British Empire Exhibition 1938 project. REVISIT was anintensive investigation into the value, practicality and barriers to reuse of 3D digital heritage content. Grant: AH/N003284/1
Heritage Site: visualising invisible heritage (Alt-W 2015-2016).
This work was led by Dr Nicky Bird (GSA) and funded by the Alt-W Fund from New Media Scotland. ‘Five Sisters’ Bings West Calder, Scheduled Industrial Monument. Heritage Site was a creative endeavour looking at the uses of 3D modelling in combination with more traditional creative works (such as photography). The work was a response to community interest around the Five Sisters Scheduled Industrial Monument site and especially to West Calder house, a lost building, now buried beneath the bings.
Future Thinking on Carved Stones (Royal Society of Edinburgh 2015-2016)
Co-applicant with Dr Sally Foster (University of Stirling) and Dr Katherine Forsyth (University of Glasgow) as lead applicants to the RSE research networking fund. The final output of the project was a co-edited research framework including 40 case studies. This is a component of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework, https://scarf.scot/thematic/future-thinking-on-carved-stones-in-scotland/ .
Archaeological Community Co-Production of Research Resources (ACCORD) (AHRC 2013-2015)
PI with Co-I Prof Sian Jones (University of Manchester/Stirling), Co-I Dr Alex Hale (RCAHMS/HES) and in partnership with Archaeology Scotland. Part of the Connected Communities research funding strand. ACCORD was a highly successful and influential project that examined issues of authenticity and engagement with digital heritage content. The project deployed multiple digital recording techniques, co-design and co-production approaches with ten community groups across Scotland as well creating co-written statements of social value. Grant AH/L007533/1
Reconnecting with Public Art - George Square Site Specific Music (Creative Scotland 2013)
Project leader, in partnership with Sally Beamish (independent composer) and Paul Wilson (GSA). This was a joint artist/academic partnership project funded by Creative Scotland. Set Round a Square, created a mobile device based sound experience for visitors to George Square in Glasgow, focussing on the statues and their stories.
Stuart is available to supervise PhD topics across the digital and critical heritage domains, with a particular focus on ICH, co-design, community engagement, creative response and affect, as well as digital immersive and AR technologies.
Shona Noble (1st) Title: “The digital otherworld: accessing place-based folklore through digital space” – GSA PhD Scholarship – Start, Sept 2020
Marly Samuel (1st) Title: “Facilitating community co-design approaches for inter-relationships: supporting action and dialogue engagement between fishery sectors to promote community-led initiatives for sustainable ocean livelihoods in Namibia” GCRF PhD Scholarship (via GSA) – Start, Sept 2020
Elizabeth Roberstson (2nd) (Supervisory team led by Glasgow University) Title: “Immersive sound experiences as a means of heritage interpretation and storytelling at Glencoe” – SGSAH PhD Scholarship – Start, Sept 2020
Robin Stubbs (1st) (Part time) Graduated 2021, Title: “Virtual Environments - Reinterpreting the Built Heritage”
Megan Kasten (2nd) Graduated December 2019, Title: “Three-dimensional Imaging of the Govan Stones.” (GSA/Glasgow University)
Heather Christie (1st) Graduated June 2019, Title: “Digital visualisation of small finds in archaeology” (GSA/Glasgow University)
Akash Angral (2nd) Graduated June 2019, Title: “Can digital 3D immersive and visualisation technologies be used to develop more effective design methodologies?
Stuart is Pathway Leader of the Heritage Visualisation pathway through the SIT's MSc Visualisation programme. He teaches on a number of modules in this course. These include Digital Documentation, which covers current critical heritage debates along with digital data management, resource discovery and dissemination modes, co-design principles and the use of creative response. The module Data Acquisition and Processing focuses on technical skills to support principles explored in Digital Documentation. This course offers a unique opportunity to combine heritage theory and practice with digital technologies such as laser scanning, 3D modelling, games engine technologies and real-time interaction and virtual reality.
