Nicola Schiavottiello
Cultural Designer
Summary
Skilled professional in 3D and GIS environments for archaeology and cultural heritage with a strong background in video game animation. Developed historical landscapes using GIS technologies, contributing to key archaeological projects. Co-founded Heritales, an international heritage film festival, and organised workshops to advance cultural heritage communication. Experienced cultural tour guide and course creator, enhancing educational programmes for teachers and students in Portugal.
Overview
6
6
years of post-secondary education
32
32
years of professional experience
Skills
Operating Systems: Linux, Mac OS and Windows
Programming languages: C/C/C# OpenGL, HTML, XML, Json, Javascripts, MySql
Software and platforms: ArcGIS, QGIS, Geoplot, AutoCAD, Liscad, 3D Studio Max, Terragen, Unity3d, Blender, Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, Nextcloud, Wordpress, Design Softwares Being a fast learner easy adaptable to any kind of software and platforms
Data acquisition techniques: Polynomial texture mappings (PTM), photogrammetry, laser scanning, 3d panoramas, ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), Magnetometry Expert in all database systems for cultural heritage, archaeology and museums
Solution-focused problem solving
Creative and critical thinking
Technology adaptability
Teamwork and collaboration
Project directing
Languages
Italian
Native
English
Proficient (C2)
Portuguese
Fluent
Publications and Conferences
Please check all my publications at these addresses:
https://www.cienciavitae.pt/portal/FB18-416B-C336
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5013-6641
Work history
Director
CulturImage
Worldwide
2025.06 - Current
Founder, developer and responsible for clients' contracts.
https://culturimage.com
Co-director
Heritales – International Heritage Film Festival
Portugal, UK, Italy
2016.05 - Current
Responsible for the organisation, digital communications, fundraising, relationships with film-makers, partners and social media.
https://www.heritales.org
Tour Guide
Various Entities
Europe
2024.06 - Current
Freelance Tour guide of the Lisbon and south of Portugal region like Sintra, Fátima, Tomar and Évora UNESCO city.
Employers:
Boost Portugal - https://boostportugal.com
Happytrails Portugal - https://happytrailsportugal.com
Almada Mundo - https://almadamundo.pt
Erasmus+ Trainer and Cultural Guide
Almada Mundo
Almada (Portugal)
2022.09 - Current
Web and audiovisual technician, cultural guide and trainer, course designer, school trainer, cultural tour guide and Erasmus+ teacher facilitator. Involved in several projects at :
Almada Mundo Association – International Association of Education, Training and Innovation - https://www.almadamundo.pt
Casa da Educação - https://casadaeducacao.pt
Research fellow in Digital Humanities
University of Brighton
Brighton, Brighton and Hove
2023.05 - 2024.03
Led workshops developer and tutor on new digital technologies such as photogrammetry, GIS, Laser Scanning and 360 video capture for heritage interpretation, digitisation, and digital archiving aimed at GLAM experts -
https://www.emkp.org/advanced-3d-digital-documentation-of-material-culture-workshop/
Digital Skills in Visual and Material Culture - https://culturedigitalskills.org
Co-founder of the Kinocaparica project
Escola Básica e Secundária do Monte de Caparica
Almada (Portugal)
2022.09 - 2023.06
Co-founder, coordinator and technical director of the Club and Film Laboratory of the Caparica School Group, assigned to support the group's audiovisual teaching, specialising in stop-motion and digital animation. Organiser of film events at the group and student trips to external events. Webmaster and blog content support.
https://kinocaparica.blogspot.com
https://www.aecaparica.pt/escolas/escolas/escola-secundaria-do-monte-da-caparica
Tour designer
Pandemic Tours
London
2022.10 - 2023.01
Self-guided tour designer and storyteller.
https://www.pandemictoursapp.com
VR designer and developer
Virtualtour
Lisbon (Portugal)
2017.09 - 2021.11
Worked on different projects in the fields of VR and architectural modelling.
https://virtualtour.pt
Research fellow and developer
CIDEHUS – University of Évora
Évora (Portugal)
2010.08 - 2016.08
Archaeological survey technician and 3D multimedia designer.
Worked projects:
Radiopast project: https://www2.radiopast.eu
Ammaia Museum (Portugal): http://www.ammaia.pt
Évora 3D: https://www.theseus.uevora.pt/evora3d.html
https://www.cidehus.uevora.pt
Survey Technician and data processing
Various Entities
Winchester, Hampshire
2008.12 - 2010.07
Coracle Archaeology – geophysics, core sampling and report designer http://www.coracle.co.uk
Archaeological sites:
Hili, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi (UAE) - https://tcaabudhabi.ae/en/default.aspx
British School at Rome http://www.bsr.ac.uk and Southampton University C.S. http://apss.soton.ac.uk - Geophysical, topographic and building surveyor.
Archaeological sites: Ammaia (Portugal) - http://ammaia.pt, Leptis Magna (Libya) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptis_Magna, Portus (Italy) - https://www.portusproject.org
3D Modeller & developer
Space S.P.A.
Cagliari (Italy)
2008.01 - 2008.12
Responsible for creating the real-time multimedia 3D Kiosk at the Santadi Pani Loriga (CA) museum. - https://www.museoarcheologicodisantadi.it
http://www.spacespa.it
Archaeological survey technician
Southampton University
Southampton, Hampshire
2006.07 - 2006.12
Excavation and 3D Survey technician. Archaeological sites: Portus (Rome) - https://www.portusproject.org
http://apss.soton.ac.uk
Database, CAD specialist and building surveyor
Wessex Archaeology
Salisbury, Wiltshire
2006.06 - 2006.10
Responsible for digitising paper reports for the Kent SMR District (UK)
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk
3D & GIS Designer
The Virtual Landscape Centre Stirling University
Stirling, Stirlingshire
2003.12 - 2005.10
Responsible for UI and programming sections of all projects undertaken. Yorkshire Dales National Park - http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk, Loch Lomond-Trossachs National Park - http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org
http://www.stir.ac.uk
CGI Artist
Slave Studio London
London, Greater London
2003.01 - 2003.09
Involved in the production of a full feature film. Responsible for lighting and rendering. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Jimmy
3D Game Artist
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
London, Greater London
2001.06 - 2001.09
Character and building texturing and modelling. Involved in the production of two games:
TIF (This is Football)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Football_2002 The Getaway - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Getaway_(video_game)
https://playstationlondonstudio.com
https://sonyinteractive.com/en/office/london/
Graphic Designer
Tipografia Marina Anzio
Anzio (Italy)
1994.06 - 1997.02
Worked in different project as a desktop publisher and flyer designer.
http://www.tipografiamarina.it
Education
Phd Candidate - Humanities
2026.09 -
http://www.iifa.uevora.pt
Msc - Archaeology Computing
2005.10 - 2007.12
http://www.arch.soton.ac.uk
BTEC Award - Photography and Dark Room Techniques
2003.04 - 2003.07
http://www.waes.ac.uk
BA (Hons) - Computer Visualization & Animation
1999.10 - 2002.06
http://ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk/newhome/alumni/ba2002.html
BTEC NVQ II - Graphic Design
1998.10 - 1999.06
Certification
CCP Certificate of Pedagogical Competencies Certification that legally qualifies any professional to work as a trainer in Portugal. Awarded by the IEFP—Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (Portugal) https://www.iefp.pt/certificacao-de-formadores
Cinematography for Directors Raindance short course, London, UK – http://www.raindance.co.uk
Certificate of Sound Engineering and Music Technology "City of Westminster College", London, UK - http://cwc2-px.rtrk.co.uk/
Timeline
University of Évora (Portugal) - Phd Candidate, Humanities
2026.09 -
Director - CulturImage
2025.06 - Current
Tour Guide - Various Entities
2024.06 - Current
Research fellow in Digital Humanities - University of Brighton
2023.05 - 2024.03
Tour designer - Pandemic Tours
2022.10 - 2023.01
Erasmus+ Trainer and Cultural Guide - Almada Mundo
2022.09 - Current
Co-founder of the Kinocaparica project - Escola Básica e Secundária do Monte de Caparica
2022.09 - 2023.06
VR designer and developer - Virtualtour
2017.09 - 2021.11
Co-director - Heritales – International Heritage Film Festival
2016.05 - Current
Research fellow and developer - CIDEHUS – University of Évora
2010.08 - 2016.08
Survey Technician and data processing - Various Entities
2008.12 - 2010.07
3D Modeller & developer - Space S.P.A.
2008.01 - 2008.12
Archaeological survey technician - Southampton University
2006.07 - 2006.12
Database, CAD specialist and building surveyor - Wessex Archaeology
2006.06 - 2006.10
University of Southampton - Msc, Archaeology Computing
2005.10 - 2007.12
3D & GIS Designer - The Virtual Landscape Centre Stirling University
2003.12 - 2005.10
City of Westminster College (WAES) - BTEC Award, Photography and Dark Room Techniques
2003.04 - 2003.07
CGI Artist - Slave Studio London
2003.01 - 2003.09
3D Game Artist - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
2001.06 - 2001.09
Bournemouth University, NCCA (National Centre for Computer Animation) - BA (Hons), Computer Visualization & Animation
1999.10 - 2002.06
Central Graphic Academy (CGA) - BTEC NVQ II, Graphic Design
1998.10 - 1999.06
Graphic Designer - Tipografia Marina Anzio
1994.06 - 1997.02
Accomplishments
Special mention at the Heritage in Motion Award 2021 in Venice - https://heritageinmotion.eu/pressrelease/winners-of-the-heritage-in-motion-awards-2021-announced
https://www.heritales.org
Member of ESACH Europa e coordinator of ESACH Évora International network of European students and young professionals working within cultural heritage - https://www.esach.org/
Additional informations
I work in a variety of areas: artistic, technical, creative, methodical researcher and project management. I am also a passionate cultural trainer, programmer and a tour guide. I am extremely passionate about transferring knowledge to younger audiences, teaching techniques for data capture in archaeological excavations and the conservation of digital artefacts in museums. I teach various techniques such as photogrammetry, 3D laser scanning and 3D printing and digital mapping. I specialise in virtual heritage, digital storytelling and historical and cultural digital platform solutions applied to archaeological practice and the dissemination of Cultural Heritage.