ASU's Hispanic Research Center partners with CyArk

A collaboration to digitize Franciscan sites across the globe

by Justin Barton
May 10, 2013
CyArk is pleased to announce our partnership with the Hispanic Research Center at Arizona State University and their ongoing Saint Francis and the Americas project.

Earlier this year at the California Missions Studies Association's annual conference in Santa Barbara, CA, CyArk representatives Tom Greaves and Justin Barton met Dr. Gary Keller, Director of ASU's Hispanic Research Center (HRC). Dr. Keller's enthusiasm for studying St Francis' impact on the Americas was clear. His vision to create compelling educational tools and resources using digital media and online content aligns with CyArk's mission. The HRC's St Francis and the Americas project has been working to document the Franciscan missions of El Camino Real de California as well as other Franciscan structures in the US' Southwest region as well as abroad. HRC's documentation includes digital video and photography; and after initial talks with CyArk, Dr. Keller's interest grew to include 3D laser scanning.

"We're exceedingly excited about this important partnership," Keller said. "The technologies CyArk is using to document the endangered cultural resources of the world will be hugely beneficial in preserving these works of wonder for generations to come. We're delighted that the HRC can be a part and contribute to that worthy cause."

Dr. Keller has already coordinated the donation of hundreds of hours of raw video documentation (including interviews), and digital photographs to the CyArk Archive. This influx of digital media will be used to supplement CyArk's on-going Digital Preservation of El Camino Real de California project.

CyArk and the HRC will continue to collaborate on this effort and are beginning to discuss the expansion of the partnership to incorporate CyArk's version of 3D digital preservation into upcoming HRC research and fieldwork. This may include further works abroad, such as the Franciscan New Jerusalem in the Valley of Anáhuac, Mexico and other Franciscan churches and sites within Chile.

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CyArk partners with Arizona State University's Hispanic Research Center