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Tools for Digital Scholarship & Data

This guide is a curated list of tools for digital scholarship and research data projects.

Virtual Reality & 3D Modeling

Unity

is a game development platform for creating 2D and 3D games and simulations. Familiarity with 3D concepts and basic programming skills are helpful. Other similar game development software include Unreal Engine and Source game engine. The following are free versions of Unity.

  • Unity Personal: A free version of Unity for beginners. Does not include additional support, training and services. Available to use if your revenue or funding (raised or self-funded) does not exceed $100K per year.
  • Unity for Students: Students who are using Unity outside the classroom to build or refine their skills are welcome to download the free and fully-featured Unity Personal.
  • Unity for Educators: The Unity License Grant Program offers free Unity Education Edition Licenses to qualifying not-for-profit academic institutions and educational programs in support of their in-class instruction. Educators are welcome to apply on behalf of their institution. Applications are reviewed by Unity representatives and approved based on institutional eligibility.
  • Explore Unity features

 

SketchUp

is web-based, modeling software for drawing in 3D. SketchUp Free runs in your web browser (nothing to download), provides 10GB of cloud storage, and includes an app to view 3D models on your mobile device. SketchUp Free can import SKP, JPG, PNG file types and export SKP, PNG, STL file types. Through SketchUp Free you also have access to user-generated and manufacturer-produced models to give your projects context and life.

 

Blender

is a free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports 3D modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, and video editing and game creation.

 

A-Frame

is a web framework for building virtual reality (VR) experiences. A-Frame is based on top of HTML, making it simple to get started. As an independent open source project, A-Frame has grown to be one of the largest VR communities.