Some time ago, I started adding links to 3D models on Sketchfab to ogham stones, sheela-na-gigs and high crosses in Ireland. I thought that this was a good idea to add value to the map, because we already link 2D images, 3D is just so much cooler and more useful. Some of these artefacts are not accessible to the public at all times, and having a digital 3D model makes them accessible for all the world (with a fast enough internet connection). Of course, you could just browse Sketchfab, but having the geolocation can be interesting and useful too.

Sometimes, museums or universities have contracted someone to make 3D models of artefacts that might be in storage in a museum or inaccessible in a farmyard, thus providing OpenAccess to these models in digital form.

What started this initiative of was that I found a working photogrammetry app called Kiri Engine. Full disclosure now: They have made me an ambassador for their app, since I’ve been promoting it in a video already and have recommended it to a few friends in archaeology. But I would still promote it, even if they hadn’t done that.

I’ve made a video on how to use it (YouTube) which will be followed by another one soon. The previous video was about why and how to link to Sketchfab from OSM: YouTube. I had made a wiki page for Sketchfab, but it has experienced some editing since. For it to be useful, the link has to work as a link, so for now, we cannot use just an identifier for the model, but have to use a full link. Sketchfab does hoewever provide a short link which consists of https://skfb.ly/ followed by a (for now) 5-digit code of letters and numbers. This might be possible to utilize as an identifier. But for now, I’m using and would recommend using url:sketchfab with the short url.

You could also link to the Kiri models, but they don’t seem to have an openly accessible gallery of their models, possibly to make people buy their full version which allows for exporting and other things. Fair enough, they have to make their money somehow, and they’re only a StartUp. With a free sketchfab account, each models has to be 100MB or less, so when it is larger, I link from the low poly Sketchfab to the high poly Kiri model.

I’m sure there are other apps for photogrammetry, especially for the iPhone, but I’m very happy with this one.

overpass-turbo query with all uses of url:sketchfab

(Sorry I didn’t include any images, but it’s pointless adding 2D images of 3D models.)