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The Cultural Heritage Professional Development Initiative

The Cultural Heritage Professional Development Initiative seeks to encourage individuals and organizations to adopt digital imaging practices. Frequently, those in the cultural heritage field are not trained in cutting edge imaging techniques, largely because these tools did not exist until very recently. It is also impractical to out source these skills since the commercial fees charged for such imaging services are prohibitively expensive for many museums, universities, and other cultural institutions. CHI hopes to serve this community by making existing computer imaging and information technology available.

CHI seeks to enhance both the quality and quantity of information gathered by those working 'in the trenches.' It is understood at CHI that the only way to formulate a good digital imaging workflow is to listen to the cultural heritage professionals who will use them. We look for opportunities to engage in collaborative creative thinking that adapts digital technologies, in a practical and useful manner, for cultural heritage use.

The Cultural Heritage Professional Development Initiative is based on the following concepts:

-	Digital imaging methods can record more, and more useful, information than previous methods.
-	Digital imaging techniques can be smoothly integrated into existing work flows.
-	Once in digital form, information can be communicated more widely, effectively, and less expensively.
-	Digital imaging methods can be adapted in ways to insure image fidelity with its 'real world' sources.
-	The process of developing and adopting digital workflows will be enhanced by fostering an on going methodological discussion among cultural heritage professionals.
-	It is only a matter of time before almost all cultural heritage information is gathered and shared digitally.

CHI's role:

CHI is always willing to talk to cultural heritage professionals about potential digital imaging applications. Contact Us

CHI's web site offers discussions of technologies, related examples, and web resources. CHI is actively pursuing funding to create online forums and an additional series of free web based tutorials and training materials. These tutorials will be designed to provide a technology foundation for cultural heritage workers.

CHI's documentation services are able to generate documentary content for 'proof of concept' projects demonstrating the feasibility of digital imaging methods.

Documentation service is also available for on site imaging of excavations and cultural heritage collections.

CHI's training and consulting services offer one-on-one or group training, in the lab or at the excavation site. Training can cover imaging techniques along with the management and presentation of the captured data. Recognizing that often the best way to learn is by doing, training and documentation services can be combined providing both finished imaging content and professional development.

Evaluation of existing imaging equipment and future equipment acquisition planning services are available.

While many cultural heritage professionals work for non-profit organizations or, their non-US equivalents, capable of receiving grants and tax deductible contributions directly, CHI, as a 501(c)(3) corporation, may be able to help secure funding for projects, or administer funds for organizations without this status, if the project fits within CHI's mission and priorities.

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Great Court, British Museum
London, England

Related CHI Content:
	Featured Projects
	What CHI Does
	The Big Picture: Digital Imaging and Cultural Heritage in Context

Related Web Resources:
	See Web Resources for extensive technology information

Main Entrance,
Louvre Museum,
Paris, France