Documentation and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Submerged by Dam Construction Using Digital Technology

Abstract. The proliferation of hydropower dams has submerged numerous cultural heritage sites, posing significant challenges to their preservation and study due to physical inaccessibility and accelerated deterioration. This paper explores the potential of digital technology in documenting and reconstructing such submerged cultural heritage, specifically focusing on the Daegok-ri Bronze Age site in South Korea. Utilizing GIS-based landscape analysis, 3D visualization, and real-time rendering engines, this paper digitally reconstructs the site's historical landscape and the spatial context of its features.
This digital reconstruction clarifies the relationships between dwellings and tombs, providing crucial archaeological insight. These outcomes also facilitate virtual heritage applications for educational programs, museum exhibits, and virtual tourism through VR/AR. Ultimately, this approach demonstrates digital preservation as a sustainable solution to record, protect, and reimagine submerged heritage through immersive virtual environments.