Digital Twins of the Past: From Field Capture to Fabrication
Maker Faire Bay Area 2026
September 25th-27th
This talk explores how photogrammetry is used to create digital twins of archaeological sites and artifacts—transforming real-world environments into detailed 3D models that can be shared, studied, and fabricated. Drawing from fieldwork in Oaxaca, Mexico, and teaching within university makerspaces, this presentation walks through a full pipeline: image capture in the field, digital reconstruction, and output into physical 3D prints and immersive experiences.
Attendees will see how students and community members engage directly with cultural heritage through hands-on making, producing tangible replicas and interactive digital models. The talk also addresses access, ethics, and collaboration with local communities, highlighting how digital twin technologies can support preservation while expanding who gets to participate in archaeology and storytelling.
Whether you’re a maker, educator, or researcher, you’ll leave with practical insight into tools, workflows, and ways to bring digital twins into your own projects.
Schedule
Jane Crayton
Jane Crayton is a Makerspace Coordinator with the University of Wyoming Innovation Network and an instructor in the School of Computing. Her work sits at the intersection of digital humanities, geospatial technologies, and immersive media, with a focus on photogrammetry and 3D documentation of cultural heritage sites. She leads courses and research initiatives that train students in field-to-digital workflows, including 3D modeling, XR development, and digital preservation. Her ongoing work in Oaxaca involves community-engaged archaeological documentation, where she develops immersive datasets and digital twins that support research, education, and public access.
