Computer Vision and Its Impact on Supporting the Smart Digital Transformation of Cultural Heritage Projects in Arab public information institutions: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a knowledge- and technology-driven revolution, associated with innovative technologies that rely on AI, such as robotics, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, Internet of Things, Autonomous vehicles, and computer vision. These technologies are characterized by three common features: complexity, speed, and comprehensiveness.
The study aimed to observe the potential impact of Computer Vision technology on enhancing the smart digital transformation of Arab cultural heritage digitization projects in public information institutions, including initiatives at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, King Abdulaziz Public Library, and Dubai Public Library.
To achieve its objectives, the study employed descriptive and analytical research methods, utilizing the research tools of a checklist and content analysis. The study relied on several sources to examine the literature review, most notably the Egyptian Knowledge Bank databases. It examined models of public information institutions' digitization of their heritage and cultural resources and explored the effects of computer vision technology on enhancing access to these information resources.
The study reached a set of results, most notably the multiple uses of computer vision technology to enhance services in information institutions. It also identified examples of the potential impact of employing this technology to enhance the smart digital transformation of cultural heritage projects in the public information institutions sampled in the study. These included obtaining collections of images, documents, manuscripts, archives, museum collections, and historical images and processing them digitally using smart digital scanning techniques. These techniques can be used to pre-process these collections, segment them, extract important features, and classify them, facilitating search and retrieval. The study recommended that Arab public information institutions adopt initiatives targeting the smart digital transformation of their cultural heritage resources, relying on AI technologies and applications.