Representation and preservation of traditional crafting techniques

This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for documenting and analysing traditional craft practices through ethnographic observation, enhanced by digital technologies. The process begins with thorough preparation, including workshop setup, glossary development, and action forecasting. Data collection integrates the digitisation of tools and workspaces alongside multimodal recordings—audio, video, and motion capture—to document practitioner actions in detail. The recorded data is then systematically parsed to identify objects and actions, with expert practitioner input guiding segmentation and interpretation. These actions are subsequently modelled through simulations, linking them to archetypal behaviours for analysis and visualisation. This framework establishes a structured, semantically rich knowledge base for craft actions, offering new insights into the mechanics and meaning of traditional practices.