Preserving Central Sulawesi Megaliths via Virtual Reality and Photogrammetry

Abstract

This research addresses the challenge of limited physical access to the significant megalithic cultural heritage sites in Central Sulawesi, which are geographically dispersed across the Bada, Napu, and Behoa valleys. Conventional media, such as 2D photos and videos, fail to convey the spatial and monumental scale of these artifacts. This study develops an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) application as an alternative cultural preservation and information accessibility medium. The methodology employs a multimedia development pipeline, beginning with photogrammetric data acquisition using drones to create high-fidelity 3D models of megalithic artifacts. These models are then optimized through retopology and texture baking to ensure smooth performance on standalone VR devices like the Meta Quest 3. Quantitative performance analysis shows that the optimization process successfully reduced the polygon count by over 99% (from an average of 1.5 million to approximately 12,000 polygons per artifact). This massive geometry reduction resulted in significant computational efficiency, with statistical tests indicating a statistically significant increase in the average frame rate from an unstable 28.69 FPS to a highly stable 72.28 FPS (t(118.8) = 18.94, p < 0.001). Furthermore, user experience evaluation indicates high visual fidelity and comfort, proving the application to be an effective and inclusive digital preservation medium for cultural heritage.