Digital Innovation in Cultural Heritage: A Study of Digital Twins, Photogrammetry, and Irish Case Studies

This study investigates how Digital Twins, photogrammetry, and related 3D technologies are transforming cultural heritage preservation, with a particular focus on Irish case studies. Heritage sites face increasing threats from climate change, conflict, natural decay, and limited conservation resources. Traditional methods-while culturally significant-struggle to meet modern preservation demands due to their cost, time requirements, and limited precision. Digital tools offer new solutions: photogrammetry enables accurate, low-cost 3D documentation; laser scanning provides high-precision structural data; and Digital Twins support predictive maintenance, environmental monitoring, and virtual engagement. Through a mixed-methods approach combining literature review, case studies, surveys, and interviews, the research evaluates four major Irish digital heritage initiatives: Beyond 2022, Spike Island, Ogham in 3D, and the Digital Repository of Ireland. Findings show strong benefits in documentation accuracy, asset management, and public accessibility, but also highlight barriers such as funding gaps, limited digital skills, and long-term data storage challenges. The study concludes that Ireland has significant potential for leadership in digital heritage but requires a coordinated national strategy to support training, infrastructure, ethical data management, and sustainable digital preservation practices.