The BALaTAI projects applies AI (artificial intelligence) techniques to cultural heritage data stored in BALaT, the digital photographic inventory of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA). BALaT contains more than 850.000 art historical images and 500.000 object descriptions. The inventory showcases all types of Belgian cultural heritage objects, such as historic buildings, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, and leaded windows. In the near future, BALaT will also display research data including intervention files and scientific imagery, including spectroscopy and radiography images.
The BALaTAI project investigates how meaningful insights can be extracted from large cultural heritage datasets, such as previously undiscovered patterns or links. It also investigates how to encourage users, both experts and the general public, to engage more with BALaT.