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Critical Masses: Augmented Virtual Experiences and the Xenoplastic at Australia’s Cold War and Nuclear Heritage Sites

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Abstract

Critical Masses is a multidisciplinary pilot project that aims to graphically represent and mediate the histories, spaces and narratives concerning former nuclear installations within central Australia. These include the abandoned British atomic test sites at Emu Field and Maralinga, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)/Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) rocket launchers at Woomera, and the decommissioned US National Security Agency early warning satellite base at Nurrungar. Significantly, each of these Cold War sites are situated in either hazardous, remote, secure and/or culturally sensitive areas and require sophisticated analysis and negotiation in order to best render their complexity for both online access and on-site tourism. In association with the Maralinga-Pilling Trust and traditional indigenous landowners a multi-tiered approach (re)creating these locations is being modelled across platforms for diverse audiences. Digital materials are being authored and designed for stand-alone DVD, online interactive sites and archives, an immersive/simulated space for interpretation centres, and augmented/enhanced reality interfaces via GPS and mobile/handheld devices used in situ at key sites.

Résumé

Masses Critiques est un projet pilote multidisciplinaire qui vise à représenter graphiquement et arbitrer les histoires, les espaces et les récits concernant les anciennes installations nucléaires de l’Australie centrale. Cela inclus les sites d’essais atomiques Britanniques abandonnés d’Emu Field et Maralinga, le lanceur de fusée ICBM/IRBM de Woomera, et la base du satellite US de première alerte hors service de l’Agence Nationale de Sécurité de Nurrungar. Tous ces site de la guerre froide sont principalement situés soit dans des zones dangereuses, éloignées, sures et/ou culturellement sensibles et demandent analyse sophistiquée et tractation de manière à mieux présenter leur complexité à l’accès en ligne et au tourisme sur site. En association avec le trust Maralinga-Pilling et les propriétaires indigènes traditionnels une approche multi-facettes (re)créant ces sites va être modélisée sur des plateformes pour des audiences diverses. Des supports numériques vont être écris et conçus pour des DVD autonomes, des sites interactifs en ligne et des archives, un espace d’immersion/simulation pour les centres d’interprétariat, des interfaces accrues et améliorées via GPS et appareils mobiles/portatifs utilisés in situ sur des sites clés.

Resumen

Critical Masses es un proyecto piloto multidisciplinar que tiene como objetivo representar gráficamente y actuar como mediador en las historias, los espacios y las narrativas relacionadas con las instalaciones nucleares de Australia central. Entre ellas se incluyen los centros abandonados de pruebas atómicas nucleares en Emu Field y Maralinga, las lanzaderas de ICBM/IRBM en Woomera y la base de satélites desmantelada de la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional Estadounidense en Nurrungar. Es significativo el hecho de que estos sitios de la Guerra Fría se encuentran bien en zonas peligrosas, remotas, seguras o con sensibilidad cultural que requieren análisis y negociaciones avanzados para, a pesar de su complejidad, hacerlos accesibles en línea y permitir turismo en el sitio. En asociación con el Maralinga-Pilling Trust y los terratenientes indígena tradicionales, se está creando un enfoque multinivel para recrear estos lugares en plataformas para diversas audiencias. Asimismo, se están elaborando y diseñando materiales digitales para DVD independientes, sitios interactivos en línea y archivos, un espacio inmersivo y simulado para centros de interpretación y más y mejores interfaces sobre realidad mediante GPS, sin olvidar los dispositivos móviles utilizados in situ en los lugares clave.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Mick Broderick, Mark Cypher & Jim Macbeth

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  1. Mick Broderick
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  2. Mark Cypher
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  3. Jim Macbeth
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Correspondence to Mick Broderick.

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Broderick, M., Cypher, M. & Macbeth, J. Critical Masses: Augmented Virtual Experiences and the Xenoplastic at Australia’s Cold War and Nuclear Heritage Sites. Arch 5, 323–343 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-009-9110-3

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