Franklin College Receives Grant Bringing Innovation and History Together
Franklin College has been awarded a $4,000 grant from Community Engaged Alliance (CEA) to support an innovative student-led preservation project. Through photogrammetry and 3D printing, students will digitally preserve and recreate significant historic buildings across Johnson County. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the Johnson County Museum of History in Franklin.
Using specialized equipment from the College’s Center for Tech Innovation (CTI), students will be trained to collect high-resolution images of historically significant structures. They will then convert the image data into 3D models using photogrammetry software. These digital reconstructions will then be printed in physical form using the CTI’s existing 3D printing technology.
The printed models will be shared with the Johnson County Museum of History, where they will be used to create tangible historical exhibits. David Pfeiffer, the museum director, plans to work with a local ceramics company to render final models in durable, visually compelling formats for public display and purchase.
“This project addresses a common challenge in historical education and preservation – how to engage the public – especially younger generations – with historical structures and stories that may otherwise go unnoticed,” said Andrew Roser, the director of digital fluency at the College and the project coordinator. “It also addresses a related educational goal – preparing students for a digital, interdisciplinary future by offering meaningful hands-on learning in a community setting.”
“The Johnson County Museum has partnered with Franklin College on many projects over the years, but I’m especially excited for this one,” Pfeiffer said. “The ability to recreate historic buildings and perhaps down-the-line historic artifacts will be an incredibly useful education tool for the museum, while providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology for the students.”