CyArk Presenting at Japanese American Museum of San Jose

by Justin Barton
March 13, 2013
Elizabeth Lee, Director of Operations at CyArk, is pleased to be presenting on CyArk's digital preservation efforts at Manzanar, Topaz, and Tule Lake at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose this Saturday.

Release from JAMsj, below.

CyArk is an Oakland based non-profit organization which digitally preserves cultural heritage sites through laser scanning, digital modeling, and other state-of-the-art technologies. This presentation and hands-on demo will present their work on the Manzanar, Tule Lake, and Topaz War Relocation Authority camps.

Imagine visiting one of the WWII Wartime Relocation Authority concentration camps, looking at what is today a barren landscape but being able to see on a handheld device a computer-generated image of what used to be In the very spot that you are looking at. Not only that, but imagine being able to hear the voice of a former internee describing what life was like when people were imprisoned there.

We are excited to announce that CyArk, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the digital preservation of cultural heritage sites, will be at JAMsj on March 16, presenting the results of its 2011 grant program to digitally preserve and virtually reconstruct the confinement sites of Manzanar, Topaz, and Tule Lake. CyArk has used the latest in 3D technology to capture the historic remains of the three sites. Working in partnership with the National Park Service and independent researchers, CyArk used historic information and its own recently captured 3D data to develop comprehensive historic models of the three camps. Each camp was digitally reconstructed to include the unique elements of each site, including gardens and other landscape features.

CyArk's presentation will explain the process used to develop the models, including an explanation of the latest technology used in the project. The presentation will feature a live demonstration of the models and various interpretive elements soon available to the public. It will also demonstrate how to access the robust database of information developed during the project.

CyArk is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California. CyArk's mission is the digital preservation of the world's important monuments and sites. It works to ensure that these tangible testaments to human history will not be lost to future generations.

Example of CyArk cgi video (Merritt Park at Manzanar): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSYOlTm6hlQ

Cost: Entry is free with admission to the museum (non-members, $5; students and seniors over age 65, $3; JAMsj members and children under 12, free).

Seating is limited, so please email PublicPrograms@JAMsj.org or call the JAMsj office at (408) 294-3138 to reserve your spot today.

For more information, please visit the JAMsj website.
CyArk to present at Japanese American Museum of San Jose
Digital reconstruction of Manzanar
Transitional image of the hospital garden at Manzanar