KUCHING: A comprehensive discussion with the Sarawak Museum Department on the heritage preservation through digital technology is set to take place within the next two months, said Director of Professional Services at PCSS Consultancy Sdn Bhd, Andy Tiong.
He said the initiative aimed to chart a roadmap for documenting and preserving historical sites using digital mapping and modelling.
“Today, through the ‘Timeless Treasures: The Legacy of Old Hokkien School & Darul Kurnia’ exhibition programme, we connect the dots and we’re going to build this programme.
“We plan to engage in discussions soon to determine the next steps for digitising other heritage buildings across Sarawak,” he said when met by reporters after the closing ceremony of the exhibition at Plaza Merdeka here yesterday.
He said that the upcoming discussion would bring together stakeholders and the Sarawak Museum Department to explore the integration of collected data into interactive digital platforms, such as the Borneo Museum’s virtual archive.
Earlier, he said that PCSS first began working with community college interns in 2020, discovering that hands-on technical training was as valuable – if not more so – than academic qualifications alone.
By early 2024, they launched documentation of two historical buildings, Old Hokkien School & Darul Kurnia, after training students for three months in data collection and field technology.
Tiong noted that some buildings were found to be in unexpectedly good condition, opening opportunities for adaptive reuse.
“These structures, though unused for years, are still solid. With minor restoration, they could serve new purposes in arts or innovation,” he said.
The project’s long-term vision includes developing a digital archive of heritage buildings, complete with 3D models accessible to researchers, educators and the public.
