March 15, 2023 – Khon Kaen University led by Assoc. Prof. Niyom Wongpongkham, Ph.D., Vice President for Art, Culture, and Creative Economy and Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise presented the Architectural Virtual Model of the Khom Religious Place in Khon Kaen to Mr. Piyapong Khlungthong, Puau Noi Head District Officer and Mr. Sitthichai Inthuprapa, Deputy Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Khon Kaen Office. The presenting took place at Puay Noi Castle, Khon Kaen.
The Project on development of the architectural virtual model of the Khom Civilization Area in Khon Kaen was aimed at promoting cultural tourism, and was carried out in 2021-2022 by the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and the General Education Institute of Khon Kaen University. The budget for the Project was allocated from the Innovation and Enterprise Section of Khon Kaen University. It was aimed to construct the architectural virtual model of Khom civilization in an area of Khon Kaen Province. The model has been produced in a three-dimension picture, video clip and mobile phone application and is expected to promote cultural tourism.
Dr. Hava Wongpongkham, the Head of the Project on development of the architectural virtual model of the Khom Civilization Area in Khon Kaen for cultural tourism promotion explained, “The beginning of this Project was from the need to serve the community. Owing to my architectural knowledge and my continuing education at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Khon Kaen University, I learned that vernacular art is very important.”
“We selected Khom Castle because of its durability and because it reflects the thinking of people at that period. We also want the community people to see the pictures of the castle 2000 years ago before it was ruined. We applied innovations and bodies of knowledge from the Department of Fine Arts and from many academicians. Then we compared to Puay Noi Castle that was built during the Baphoun Art Era and the eras of the nearly similar period such as Muang Tam or Panom Rung. After this, we developed the assumption and obtained a documentary application by using Metaverse and 3-dimension pictures. Tourists and interested people can see the architectural virtual model of Puay Noi Castle and can take a picture just like they are at the Castle. This is viable through the Application, from which you just have to scan the QR Code.”
Dr. Hava Wongpongkham added, “The fun part of this Project was both the enjoyment and pride because we worked with people at Puay Noi District, a very strong community with strong leaders, including the Governor, the District Head Officer, the Permanent Secretary, the villagers and the group of people who love Puay Noi Castle. We had fun with the villagers when we carried out this project with them. After submitting the research work, we are not stopping here, but we will develop another research project. What we are doing is making virtual pictures using light emission at the scale of 1:1, which will be shown in April during the merit making time of Puay Noi Castle. This will let spectators see the superiority of the Castle. It will be the first time that the merit making event will have the Background of the Pictures of the Castle shown”, said Dr. Hava.
Mr. Piyapong Khlungthong, Puau Noi Head District Officer said that the District is lucky to have this archaeological place and this is the capital of the area. “We are thinking what we should do to make the benefits for the people, in economy, social and art and culture. The Project on development of the architectural virtual model of the Khom Civilization Area of Khon Kaen University is something to be appreciated. It will be exciting for the community people to learn more about the Castle in details. This will also help attract tourism and community development in the near future.”
News: Rawiporn Saisaenthong
