AI Applications in Digital Heritage: Regional Workshop

The 2026 Workshop is successfully concluded. Watch this space for more!

Programme Outline

  • Pre-workshop day (June 23, 2026): Visits to heritage projects and institutions in Singapore
  • Day 1 (June 24, 2026): Research and Project Presentations by researchers and heritage professionals in the region (12 to 14 presentations)
  • Day 2 (June 25, 2026): Hands-on tutorials on AI technologies and applications
    • Tutorial 1 (June 25, morning): Knowledge graph, graph database, graph visualization
    • Tutorial 2 (June 25, afternoon): API development using Python/Flask to retrieve and integrate information from databases, the Web and AI services (e.g. GPT-5), and using GenAI services to convert natural language queries to database query languages and to summarize search results.
  • Day 3 (June 26, 2026): Hands-on tutorials on AI technologies and applications
    • Tutorial 3 (June 26, morning): Video analysis, using dance videos as case study.
    • Tutorial 4 (June 26, afternoon): Applications of Generative AI and Embedding Vectors in information extraction and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).

Participants may attend selected days of the Workshop.

Venue

The Workshop (June 24 to June 26) will be held at:
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information
Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718

Specific rooms:

  • Day 1:  Lee Foundation Lecture Theatre (on Level 1, next to school foyer)
  • Day 2 and 3:  Executive Seminar Room (Rm CS02-19 on Level 2)

Number of Participants

  • Expected 100 participants for Day 1 presentations
  • Expected 50 participants for Day 2 and Day 3 tutorials

Day 1 (June 24, 2026) - Programme

Venue:
Lee Foundation Lecture Theatre (on Level 1, next to school foyer)
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information
Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718

Download abstracts here:  Abstracts for AI workshop (Jun 2026)

SESSION 1: Synthesizing Stories & Learning (9:00am to 10:30am)    

Exploring AI Possibilities: Unlocking 150 Years of Botanical Treasures at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Nura Abdul Karim
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore

From access to engagement: AI-mediated heritage learning with archival materials in Singapore
Aditi Krishna Neti*, Jeffrey T.K.V. Koh*, Hung Yi Ho*, Cardejah Zulkifli*, Na Yeon Ko*, Nicholas Chen^, Shimeng Wang^, Jervais Choo^
*Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
^National Heritage Board, Singapore

Can interfaces tell stories? Rethinking digital heritage through UX and AI
Manasawee Kaenampornpan* and Jantima Polpinij^
*Dept. of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
^ Faculty of Informatics, Mahasarakham University, Thailand

SESSION 2: Keynote and Creating Multimodal Experiences (11:00am to 1:00pm)

(Keynote) From archival theory to algorithms: Computational archival science in the age of AI
Natalia Bolfarini Tognoli
Department of Information Science, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Multimodal synthesis for built heritage: From Kelong E63 to the national scale
Muhammad Syahid Bin Mustapa and Gerald Sim
National Heritage Board, Singapore

Zarzuela, Comedia, Teatro, Drama, Opera, Film and Cinema in the Makinaugalingon Newspaper (1913-1941): A knowledge graph approach
Shane Abigail C. Abido*, Earl Scarlet G. Chavez*, Manuela R. Losañes*, Regin A. Cabacas*, Pilar M. Martinez^, Stephen B. Alayon*
*College of Information and Communications Technology, West Visayas State University, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines
^Rosendo Mejica Historical Marker and Museum, Molo, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines

Digitizing and visualizing the traditional Ilonggo Komposo
Joshua Kyle M. Lachica*, James Francis Jereh E. Llabore*, Tomme Wellart A. Marcelo*, Joseph M. Yap*^, Manuela R. Losañes*, Stephen B. Alayon*
*College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT), West Visayas State University (WVSU), Iloilo City,  Philippines
^School of Library and Information Studies, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Metadata automation for AI-enabled digital heritage systems
Wirapong Chansanam
Dept. of Information Science, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

SESSION 3: Digital Technologies and Text Analysis (2:00pm to 4:00pm)

Localised trilingual speech to text engine and speech-audio archival system
Eng Siong Chng and Zhi Hao Lim
College of Computing & Data Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

AI tools for historical Malay-language newspapers
Miguel Escobar Varela
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, National University of Singapore; Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH), Singapore

Using Google NotebookLM for content extraction and analysis of the 1972 issues of The Manila Chronicle
April Manabat
Lopez Museum and Library, Eugenio Lopez Foundation, Pasig City, Philippines

Nelson Bar maritime time travel experience
Kuan-Huei Lee, Nadya Patel and Yan Yan Cao
Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore

SESSION 4: Learning from Historical Materials  (4:30pm to 6:00pm)

Mapping Islamic manuscript materials and recipes through space and time
El Tayeb Bentria, Amany Abouhamadah, Monir J. Aljaradli, Nadira Salsabila, Amine Haboub, Brahim Aissa
Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar

Finding recipes in historical texts: Polysemy in historical Asian medical sources
Michael Stanley-Baker
School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Power choreography and the generation of digital culture: A Cultural Robotics Framework for AI-mediated heritage
Jeffrey T.K.V. Koh*, Aditi Krishna Neti*, Hung Yi Ho*, Cardejah Zulkifli*, Na Yeon Ko*, Nicholas Chen^, Shimeng Wang^, Jervais Choo^
*Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
^National Heritage Board, Singapore

POSTERS

 

Mapping and visualizing X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (“Lubag”), a rare disorder endemic to Panay Island, Philippines

Juliana Marie Jabagat, Francis Ken Payunan, Julius Suganob, Paolo Hilado, Manuela Losañes, Stephen Alayon
West Visayas State University, Philippines

 

Knowledge graph and propaganda analysis of Panay Shu-ho (1943) and Panay Times (1943-1944) multilingual newspapers during the Japanese Occupation in Panay Island, Philippines
Shennah Faith Berbaña, Arabella Fatima Tejwani, Manuela Losañes, Joesyl Marie Aranas, Paolo Hilado, Regin Cabacas, Pilar Martinez3, Stephen Alayon
West Visayas State University, Philippines

 

A knowledge graph on women as published in Hiligaynon newspaper Makinaugalingon 1913-1941, 1943, 1952

Stephen Alayon, Manuela Losañes, Melgie Pacardo, Catleya Ferro, Ma. Beth Concepcion, Regin Cabacas, Paolo Hilado, Mark Solidarios, Pilar Martinez 
West Visayas State University, Philippines

 

Tracing the legacy: An exploration of Magdalena Jalandoni's works across libraries, archives, and museums
Abby Gail Alarcon, April Aireen Saenz, Elra Di M. Madalogdog1, Manuela Losañes, Stephen Alayon

West Visayas State University, Philippines

 

AI-enhanced bibliometric profiling of graduate theses and dissertations: A knowledge graph and RAG-based analysis of a state university in the Philippines

Winnie Boy Sina-on, Manuela Losañes, Elra Di M. Madalogdog, Ma. Beth Concepcion, Regin Cabacas, Shem Durst Elijah Sandig, Stephen Alayon
West Visayas State University, Philippines


    Day 2 (June 25, 2026) - Programme

    Venue:
    Executive Seminar Room (Rm #02-19A on Level 2)
    Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information
    Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718

    TUTORIAL 1: Knowledge graph, graph database, graph visualization

    9:30am to 11:00am
    • Prior preparation: Create an account with AuraDB cloud service: with https://console.neo4j.io/
    • Talk: Principles of knowledge graph
    • Demo: Knowledge graph applications
    • Data: Sample knowledge graph data in MS Excel and Google Sheets format
    • Hands-on: Create a Neo4j database on AuraDB cloud service
    11:00am to 11:30amTea break
    11:30am to 1:00pm
    • Prior preparation: Install Notepad++ and Cursor.com on your desktop
    • Talk: Introduction to Neo4j Cypher query language
    • Hands-on: Web interface: HTML and JavaScript files
    1:00pm to 2:00pmLunch

    TUTORIAL 2: API development using Python+Flask

    2:00pm to 3:30pm
    • Code guided-tour: Python+Flask API folder structure, and Python files
    • Hands-on: Deploy API on desktop
    • Hands-on: Link Web interface to API
    3:30pm to 4:00pmTea break
    4:00pm to 5:00pmDesign & evaluation of graph visualization interface
    • Talk: Knowledge graph interface: Design issues and recommendations (Chris Khoo)
    • Talk: Unpacking the hairball: User challenges in a knowledge graph visualization system for digital heritage collections (Wei-Ning Cheng & Chih-Yi Wu, National Taiwan Normal University)



      Day 3 (June 26, 2026) - Programme

      Venue:
      Executive Seminar Room (Rm #02-19A on Level 2)
      Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information
      Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718

      TUTORIAL 3: Video analysis

      9:30am to 11:00am

      Instructor: Shin-Jye Lee, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

      • Talk: Principles of video analysis and machine learning
      • Talk: Python packages and products for video analysis
      • Hands-on: Using Python packages to perform video analysis
      11:00am to 11:30amTea break
      11:30am to 12:30pm
      • Talk and discussion: Potential applications of video analysis and generation
      12:30pm to 1:30pmLunch

      TUTORIAL 4: Generative AI and vector database in Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)

      1:30pm to 2:30pm

      OpenAI API

      • Prior preparation: Create an account on OpenAI API platform (https://platform.openai.com/) and on Qdrant (https://qdrant.tech/)
      • Hands-on: Python code for accessing OpenAI API and performing information extraction
      • Hands-on: Python code for using OpenAI API to convert natural language queries to Neo4j query language
      2:40pm to 3:45pm

      Qdrant vector database

      • Hands-on: Create free Cluster and Collections
      • Data: Sample dataset
      • Code guided-tour: Python code for generating embedding vectors from documents to populate a vector database
      • Code guided-tour: Python code for searching a vector database and summarizing results using GPT-5
      3:45pm to 4:15pmTea break
      4:15pm to 5:00pmEmbedding models for SE Asia Languages