Federal agencies are required to manage cultural resources under their jurisdiction for the benefit of the general public. It can be a challenge to communicate cultural resource information at an installation to the public because access is limited at most federal installations. In 2014, EVS researchers developed an electronic display system that provided a compelling way to inform the public about the cultural resources found at the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground.

The Box Digital Display Platform is a portable electronic display system that combines informational videos and nonlinear interactive content to convey information. The platform operates on a small, self-contained computer system that connects to a display with an HDMI cable. The platform uses web-based open-source technology that allows the content to be republished as a website or on a mobile device. Because the system does not connect to the internet, cybersecurity concerns are reduced, and unplanned automatic updates are avoided, which limits maintenance costs. The system can easily be upgraded when needed.

Most cultural resource mitigations include written reports, high-quality photographs, maps, drawings, and, in some cases, interviews and informational videos. The Box Digital Display Platform was designed to accommodate all these types of information, as well as 3D visualizations, leveraging existing data to bring new life to the material already held at the facility.