Course Archive

In this course, students will examine essential concepts in Cultural Heritage Studies, such as heritage preservation and digital heritage, by analyzing the 'Digital Turn' in this field and its history. The course covers how digital methods can be used to capture, analyze, manage, curate, and disseminate cultural heritage data and related knowledge to solve critical issues affecting the world's cultural heritage. For instance, how is the concept of heritage changing in the Digital Age? How can digital techniques aid in conserving tangible and intangible cultural resources or ensure their sustainability in a changing climate or in a geopolitical scenario characterized by increasing anthropic threats? Students will also explore issues related to the cost, accessibility, representation, and sustainability of digital heritage technologies through classroom learning and readings.

This seminar is intended to engage students with readings that introduce and define the contemporary discourse on the digital humanities (DH) and spark discussion on new modalities of humanistic knowledge production in the Digital Age. You will examine the history of the interdisciplinary field of the digital humanities and how the introduction of new questions has transcended the traditional text-based approach of humanities scholarship, generating new challenges. What aren’t the digital humanities (and why it matters)? Can digital methods bring highly contested knowledge into focus? And how? An important goal is the comprehension of different digital humanities approaches to the study of past and present cultures and the translation of DH principles into your own discipline/s and professional objectives.
In this approach-driven seminar, you will explore the theoretical and methodological diversity of a variety of DH subfields, such as Digital History, Digital Literary Analysis, Digital Heritage, Digital Archaeology, Digital Anthropology, Digital Art History, Digital Activism, Digital Pedagogy, Cultural Analytics, Humanities Data Science, Data Curation, etc.
Readings and discussion will focus on the following topics: introduction to the digital humanities; the conceptualization of models in DH; distant VS close reading; DH and the visual production of knowledge; search engines and data discrimination; big/smart/thick/messy/slow data + data provenance; DH & postcolonial thinking; feminism/critical race and the DH; social movements and digital activism; DH and pedagogy; critique of the Internet and Digital Age.

In this seminar, students will become familiar with preserving cultural heritage artefacts through digitalization, focussing on the use of linked open data. Through discussions and case studies, students will critically examine important aspects of digital preservation, such as authenticity, accuracy, accessibility, data provenance, chain of custody, data sovereignty, ISO standards, and best practices. In addition, students will analyse how linked open data can enhance access to cultural heritage resources, including art, architecture, manuscripts, heritage sites, and artefacts, and how this technology can benefit research, cultural memory, and dissemination.
The course will also provide opportunities for students to delve into the technical aspects of digital preservation, including metadata standards, data modelling, and data conversion techniques. By the end of the course, students will gain a deep understanding of the complexities involved in preserving cultural heritage in the digital age and will develop the skills to address these challenges through the use of linked open data.

On the eastern coast of Sicily, near Mount Etna, the oldest of the Sicilian Greek colonies, Naxos, was founded by the Chaldeans in 735 BC. According to the historian Thucydides, many other colonies were established shortly after, such as Syracuse and Gela. The history of relations between the Aegean region and the largest Mediterranean island has ancient origins, predating the Archaic Age colonization. Sicily has always been strategically important due to its location along the Mediterranean trade routes. During the Mycenaean Age, individuals from the Aegean region interacted with Sicily, sometimes establishing settlements on the island. The primary aim was to acquire raw materials such as sulfur, of which Sicily is extremely rich. The remains of these initial contacts are plentiful, along with imported items such as bronze products and vases adorned in the Aegean style. This course explores the connections between Sicily and the Aegean region prior to the Greek colonization during the Archaic Age. Students will examine both established and emerging research analyzing how Greek settlements were established on the island and the related material culture. They will also learn about new geospatial techniques such as GIS applications, drone surveys, and airborne LiDAR analysis, which have helped scholars verify new hypotheses about the development of these relationships and the utilization of the Sicilian territory between the 14th and 8th centuries BCE.
During the course, you will engage with important texts about Sicilian history during the Middle and Late Bronze Age. These readings will help you understand how Sicily was connected to the Aegean region, as well as other Mediterranean areas such as the Iberian Peninsula and the island of Sardinia. You will also explore key concepts in geospatial technology used in archaeological research. Specifically, you will review how scholars have employed GIS applications, drone-based surveying, and aerial and terrestrial laser scanning to gather and analyze new data. These data and tools have helped verify new hypotheses about the movement of Aegean populations from the coast of Sicily to the inland areas.

This exercise course will focus on the digital representation of cultural heritage linked data. Students will develop proficiency on the Omeka S tool, which enables encoding and displaying semantic metadata of cultural heritage items on the Web. Students will also get familiar with entity reconciliation and entity linking techniques via the OpenRefine tool. Through hands-on exercises and projects, students will gain practical experience in creating and managing digital collections of cultural heritage artefacts. They will also become proficient in and developing strategies for discovering and utilising digital cultural heritage data for research and educational purposes. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the principles of knowledge representation in the cultural heritage domain and be equipped with the technical skills to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to programming for humanists, using Python as the primary language. The course assumes no prior knowledge of programming or computer science, and it is tailored to meet the needs of students who are interested in applying programming skills to solve problems in the humanities. Students will learn programming concepts such as data types, loops, conditionals, functions, with a focus on practical applications for humanities research. In addition to programming skills, the course also emphasises good programming practices, including debugging, testing, and documentation. Throughout the course, students will also develop problem-solving skills and gain hands-on experience with Python through various assignments and a final project. By the end of it, students will be able to write simple programs, and they will acquire the necessary knowledge to learn more advanced programming skills.

Heritage professionals and archaeologists have long utilized digital imaging techniques to document, analyze, and digitize artifacts, historic buildings, and archaeological sites. In this course, students will develop competencies in digital imaging applications in cultural heritage and archaeology through field and computer lab activities, which will introduce basic principles and toolsets. Exercises will encompass an entire workflow from image acquisition, processing of derived products (i.e., digital drawings, 3D models, and digital elevation models), and data visualization for analysis and dissemination purposes. Covered techniques may include digital photography, drone photography, digital photogrammetry (Image-based Modeling, or IBM), Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), and multi-spectral imaging among others. Students will produce a final project (assessed) and will present their work to the class at the Institute for Digital Cultural Heritage XR Lab. An excursion will complement the laboratory activities and expose students to a real case study.

Heritage professionals and archaeologists have long utilized GIS application for the study and topographic analysis of historic buildings, and archaeological contexts. In this course, students will develop competencies in GIS applications in cultural heritage and archaeology, through computer lab activities, which will introduce basic topographical principles, toolsets and GIS procedures. Exercises will encompass an entire workflow from image manage, georeferencing, and vectorization. In this way it will be possible to obtain derived products, like maps and data visualizations for analysis and dissemination purposes.
At the end of the course, students will be able to use GIS to process, represent and archive spatial data of cultural and archaeological heritage for the study and reconstruction of ancient contexts.
This planned exercise course covers the following key concepts and toolsets in GIS applications in cultural heritage and archaeology. In particular, the course will be dedicated to the use of Quantum GIS software: introduction to application cases (description of the cases, and reasons, which make the use of GIS applications useful in the field of study and planning of the archaeological and cultural heritage); creation of projects (introduction to the main work tools, management of different layers); introduction to Reference Systems; data loading (vector and raster data management, data management in different reference systems); data georeferencing (the attribution of a geographic metadata to rasters or vectors); Vector editing (digitization and geometric correction tools); Introduction to query tools (to select a subset of features and table records.); basic considerations on cartographic analysis of the territory for research-driven applications (eg. application of topographic analyses).

This course offers a foundational exploration and practice of key elements in web design. The topics covered include HTML, CSS, introductory aspects of JavaScript, and the Bootstrap framework for responsive design. Additionally, students will gain proficiency in using data visualization tools for the web. Students will engage in different exercises where they will need to apply and transfer acquired skills, ensuring that they not only become familiar with the theoretical foundation of web design but also gain the competence to solve problems within this discipline. By the course's conclusion, students will possess the ability to examine, rewrite, and organize web content while successfully applying design principles to construct compelling and responsive websites tailored for humanistic purposes and beyond. This course sets the stage for a holistic understanding of web design principles, providing students with the tools to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of web design and digital communication.

This course conceives heritage as a cultural practice, which is integral to shaping, overseeing, and reconciling the diverse values and meanings assigned to heritage on both local and global scales. Probing knowledge from the field of Critical Heritage Studies, students will investigate the impact of contemporary heritage theories and concepts on the crucial discussions surrounding the characterization of global, national, and local heritage, along with considerations of universal, community, and individual rights. For instance, we will ask: What constitutes heritage? Who holds the authority to define it? Who ought to oversee its management and preservation? In what ways does the concept of heritage serve to unite or potentially create divisions within communities? What repercussions arise from the diverse approaches that different groups take in appropriating and utilizing heritage? Is there a universally recognized human right to unrestricted access, expression, and preservation of heritage? And if such a right exists, how is it manifested? How do globalization, migrations, and climate change affect heritage issues? How is the concept of heritage changing in the Digital Age? These topics will be examined through a cross-geographical and cross-historical examination of case studies, contributing to the elucidation of the concept of heritage both at local and global levels.
Drawing upon a multitude of instances of both local and global heritage, the seminar delves into heritage through a critical perspective. The topics and discussions encompass various aspects, such as heritage as a cultural process; different uses of heritage; considerations of authenticity and value in heritage; heritage and human rights; the role of heritage in nationbuilding and identity; the complex relationship between conflict, war, memories, and heritage; at-risk heritage; difficult heritage; heritage and social justice; intangible heritage and intellectual property; indigenous heritage; the ethics of cultural heritage; the connections between heritage, forced migration, and climate crises. Students will also engage with other relevant topics in international relations, cultural diplomacy, human rights, economics, the environment, and globalization.

Heritage professionals and archaeologists have long utilized laser scanning or Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) techniques to digitize artifacts and museum objects or to document and map historic buildings, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes. In this course, you will develop competencies in laser scanning applications in cultural heritage and archaeology through field and computer lab activities, which will introduce basic principles and toolsets. Exercises encompass multiple workflows, including digitization or site planning, scanning, processing raw data (scans), creating derived products (i.e., digital drawings, 3D mesh models, and digital elevation models), and data visualization for analysis and dissemination purposes. Covered techniques may include object digitization using structured light scanning, architectural documentation using terrestrial laser scanning, and site and landscape mapping using airborne LiDAR, among others. You will complete several exercises and present your work at the Institute for Digital Cultural Heritage XR Lab. Excursion(s) will complement the laboratory activities and expose students to real case studies.
This (block) planned exercise course covers the following key concepts and toolsets in laser scanning and mapping applications for cultural heritage and archaeology: laser scanning technology (e.g., different types of scanners and applications, proprietary versus open-source scanning software, processing workstations); planning (e.g., analyze site/collection conditions; workflow planning; site planning; data management; end products); data capture (e.g., laser safety; operational safety; calibration; range and coverage; resolution and accuracy; intensity and color; control and georeferencing; common mistakes); data processing (e.g., raw vs. pre-processed; cleaning; noise and distance filtering; segmentation; sectioning; classification; meshing; rendering; vectorization for CAD/BIM; exporting and file formats; image-based output); basic considerations on data analysis for research-driven applications (e.g., data fusion, data integration with BIM and CAD, further analysis in GIS; cloud integration); basic visualization principles and tools (e.g., GIS visualization tools; rendering; animation).
Tutorials and digital assignments for this course are quite difficult. They require a lot of commitment and a good understanding of the course methods. You are expected to complete the assigned readings before each seminar and submit your digital assignments on time. You will also be provided with freely accessible online discussions (on the LMU Moodle) to share comments, ideas, and reflections with your classmates and professor.

This course offers a foundational exploration and practice of key elements in web design. The topics covered include HTML, CSS, introductory aspects of JavaScript, and the Bootstrap framework for responsive design. Additionally, students will gain proficiency in using data visualization tools for the web. Students will engage in different exercises where they will need to apply and transfer acquired skills, ensuring that they not only become familiar with the theoretical foundation of web design but also gain the competence to solve problems within this discipline. By the course's conclusion, students will possess the ability to examine, rewrite, and organize web content while successfully applying design principles to construct compelling and responsive websites tailored for humanistic purposes and beyond. This course sets the stage for a holistic understanding of web design principles, providing students with the tools to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of web design and digital communication.

This course serves as a comprehensive introduction to navigating the complexities of cultural heritage semantic information systems. Students will become familiar with fundamental concepts within the Linked Open Data (LOD) domain such as ontology, triple, knowledge graph, knowledge representation and knowledge extraction.
The course then delves into ontology design practices using the software Protégé and the extraction of LOD with the querying language SPARQL. Through hands-on activities, students develop practical skills in LOD, such as understanding and designing cultural heritage ontologies and querying cultural heritage semantic datasets. By the course's end, participants gain proficiency in ontology design and SPARQL, providing a foundational understanding of the creation and querying processes applied to data models for semantic databases about cultural heritage. No prior knowledge about linked open data is needed to follow this course.

Heritage professionals and archaeologists have long utilized LIDAR applications and remote sensing for the study and topographic analysis of historic buildings, and archaeological contexts. In this course, students will develop competencies in the use of these tools in cultural heritage and archaeology, through computer lab and on-field activities, which will introduce basic topographical principles, on-field working methods, toolsets management and use, and data postprocessing. Exercises will encompass an entire workflow from data collection on the field to image management, georeferencing, and vectorization. GIS applications will be used for the final manipulations and management of lidar images. In this way, obtaining derived products, like maps, digital elevation models (DEM), and data visualizations for analysis and dissemination will be possible.
At the end of the course, students will be able to use LIDAR and remote sensing tools to process, represent, and archive spatial data of cultural and archaeological heritage.
According to the planned exercises, the course will cover key concepts and the use of the Remote Sensing toolset and LIDAR applications in cultural heritage and archaeology. In particular, the course will be dedicated to the use in the field of the GNSS station, of Last Tools and Quantum GIS software in the lab: introduction to application cases (description of the cases, and reasons, which make the use of Lidar images useful in the field of study and planning of the archaeological and cultural heritage); creation of projects (introduction to the main work tools, management of different tools and dataset); introduction to Reference Systems; data loading; data management (info extrapolation, digital elevation model creations (DEM), Vector editing, digitization and geometric correction tools); Introduction to query tools (to select a subset of features and table records.); basic considerations on LIDAR analysis of the territory for research-driven applications (e.g. application of LIDAR images analyses in topography); analysis and study of the main on-line sites that offer LIDAR satellite images in Europe (free and paid).

In this course, students will examine essential concepts in Cultural Heritage Studies, such as heritage preservation and digital heritage, by analyzing the 'Digital Turn' in this field and its history. The course covers how digital methods can be used to capture, analyze, manage, curate, and disseminate cultural heritage data and related knowledge to solve critical issues affecting the world's cultural heritage. For instance, how is the concept of heritage changing in the Digital Age? How can digital techniques aid in conserving tangible and intangible cultural resources or ensure their sustainability in a changing climate or in a geopolitical scenario characterized by increasing anthropic threats? Students will also explore issues related to the cost, accessibility, representation, and sustainability of digital heritage technologies through classroom learning and readings.

Culture and heritage establish strong and long-lasting connections between people, their societies, and the world. Museums are permanent institution in the service of society and its development, which create and maintain these material and immaterial connections for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment. Today, museums are also places of controversies surrounding exhibitions and collections. But also of innovation linked to the development of new technology for collection digitization, knowledge representation, and dissemination. In this course, students will examine main museum concepts and functions and their historical evolution to understand the shifting role and purposes of these institutions over the centuries. Drawing from numerous examples from various museums worldwide, students will use their critical knowledge to discuss contemporary museum studies topics and probe into the various aspects that define and conceptualize the usage of technology in museums. Finally, students will engage with how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected museums globally and how technology has been used by museums to face this unprecedented challenge.

In this seminar, students will become familiar with preserving cultural heritage artefacts through digitalization, focussing on the use of linked open data. Through discussions and case studies, students will critically examine important aspects of digital preservation, such as authenticity, accuracy, accessibility, data provenance, chain of custody, data sovereignty, ISO standards, and best practices. In addition, students will analyse how linked open data can enhance access to cultural heritage resources, including art, architecture, manuscripts, heritage sites, and artefacts, and how this technology can benefit research, cultural memory, and dissemination.
The course will also provide opportunities for students to delve into the technical aspects of digital preservation, including metadata standards, data modelling, and data conversion techniques. By the end of the course, students will gain a deep understanding of the complexities involved in preserving cultural heritage in the digital age and will develop the skills to address these challenges through the use of linked open data.

Heritage professionals and archaeologists have long utilized digital imaging techniques to document, analyze, and digitize artifacts, historic buildings, and archaeological sites. In this course, students will develop competencies in digital imaging applications in cultural heritage and archaeology through field and computer lab activities, which will introduce basic principles and toolsets. Exercises will encompass an entire workflow from image acquisition, processing of derived products (i.e., digital drawings, 3D models, and digital elevation models), and data visualization for analysis and dissemination purposes. Covered techniques may include digital photography, drone photography, digital photogrammetry (Image-based Modeling, or IBM), Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), and multi-spectral imaging among others. Students will produce a final project (assessed) and will present their work to the class at the Institute for Digital Cultural Heritage XR Lab. An excursion will complement the laboratory activities and expose students to a real case study.

This exercise course will focus on the digital representation of cultural heritage linked data. Students will develop proficiency on the Omeka S tool, which enables encoding and displaying semantic metadata of cultural heritage items on the Web. Students will also get familiar with entity reconciliation and entity linking techniques via the OpenRefine tool. Through hands-on exercises and projects, students will gain practical experience in creating and managing digital collections of cultural heritage artefacts. They will also become proficient in and developing strategies for discovering and utilising digital cultural heritage data for research and educational purposes. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the principles of knowledge representation in the cultural heritage domain and be equipped with the technical skills to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.

GIS applications have long enabled topographic investigation and spatial analysis of archaeological contexts and cultural landscapes while providing new tools for integrating, managing, and visualizing spatial data and conservation data related to buildings and sites of cultural significance. In this exercise course, students will get familiar with basic cartographical and topographical concepts and develop skills in the GIS platform Quantum GIS. By developing lab assignments and a final portfolio, students will become proficient in digital documentation and spatial analysis techniques that will benefit their field research and thesis work. Computer lab exercises will encompass an entire GIS workflow, from becoming familiar with different types of spatial data models and structures (raster and vector), maps, projections, and coordinate systems to building a geodatabase, georeferencing, vectorizing, and exporting site maps, and performing queries and simple spatial analysis tasks.

This course will introduce humanists to the fundamentals of programming using Python as the primary language. Students will learn programming concepts such as data types, loops, conditionals, functions, with an emphasis on practical applications for humanities research. Throughout the course, students will also develop problem-solving skills and gain hands-on experience with Python through various assignments and a final project.
No prior knowledge in programming is necessary.

In this introductory course, students will examine the concept of heritage as a multifaceted site of local and global discourses, and as a transnational asset, we all are responsible for in the present and future. Embracing interdisciplinary theories and knowledge from Archaeology, Critical Heritage Studies, Cultural Resource Management, Ethnology, and Heritage Preservation, students will probe into the various components that define and conceptualize heritage as a cultural and political concept.

This seminar is intended to engage students with readings that introduce and define the contemporary discourse on the digital humanities (DH) and spark discussion on new modalities of humanistic knowledge production in the Digital Age. You will examine the history of the interdisciplinary field of the digital humanities and how the introduction of new questions has transcended the traditional text-based approach of humanities scholarship, generating new challenges.

In this course, you will develop competencies in laser scanning applications in cultural heritage and archaeology through field and computer lab activities, which will introduce basic principles and toolsets. Exercises encompass multiple workflows, including digitization or site planning, scanning, processing raw data (scans), creating derived products (i.e., digital drawings, 3D mesh models, and digital elevation models), and data visualization for analysis and dissemination purposes.

In this course, students will develop competencies in digital imaging applications in cultural heritage and archaeology through field and computer lab activities, which will introduce basic principle and toolsets. Exercises will encompass an entire workflow from image acquisition, processing of derived products (i.e., digital drawings, 3D models, and digital elevation models), and data visualization for analysis and dissemination purposes.

In this course, students will examine main museum concepts and functions and their historical evolution to understand the shifting role and purposes of these institutions over the centuries. Drawing from numerous examples from various museums worldwide, students will use their critical knowledge to discuss contemporary museum studies topics and probe into the various aspects that define and conceptualize the usage of technology in museums.