Japan’s DNP to Develop AI Guide for Historic Sites

Nara, July 10 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese printing firm Dai Nippon Printing Co. on Friday signed a partnership pact with a cultural property research institute in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, on research and development for a next-generation heritage museum utilizing digital technologies. DNP and the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties will initially develop an interactive artificial intelligence guide service for historical sites, after conducting demonstration tests for the ancient Heijokyo Palace ruins in Nara. They plan to launch the AI-based guide service in 2028, which marks the 30th anniversary of the inscription of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, including the ruins, on the UNESCO World Heritage list. As much of the palace site remains buried under the ground, it is difficult for visitors to fully appreciate the value of the cultural properties, although some structures, such as the Suzaku gate and the Daigokuden hall, have been restored. To address this issue, the envisaged guide service is designed to use augmented reality to visualize reconstructed images of buried ruins and architectural structures. Users will also be able to ask questions freely and receive explanations, as if conversing with researchers, through smartphones and tablets. In the demonstration tests, a DNP-developed AI model will learn research findings, including reports and images accumulated through years of archaeological excavations and studies by the institute, in order to establish a standard operational system for the guide service. “We’ll be able to reunite with ancient ruins that sleep underground, hidden from view,” Makoto Motonaka, director general of the institute, told a press conference in the city of Nara on Friday. “This project, which visualizes underground ruins, holds great significance.” DNP Senior Executive Corporate Officer Motoharu Kitajima said, “Based on knowledge gained at the Heijokyo Palace ruins, we aim to scale the guide service for utilization at archaeological sites nationwide in the future.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]