The University of Bradford has been praised for the "real-world impact" of its humanities projects, which were powered by a £7 million investment by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The funding went towards technology for archaeology and digital heritage applications that have been put to contemporary uses, including the creation of the UK's first brick-for-brick digital replica of a city centre: 'Virtual Bradford.'

Technologies acquired with the funding included cross-sectional imaging for object-based capture, as well as vehicle-mounted 3D mapping cameras and scanners.

Professor Christopher Smith, executive chair of the AHRC, said: "This is the first example of this in the country, it’s the fastest example of scanning anywhere in the UK."

Adrian Walker, from Bradford Council, added: "One of the best uses of the digital twin will be the management of the Saltaire World Heritage site and relating that to potential development around Saltaire and also the management of the parks and gardens."

The University of Bradford is planning to offer its facilities as fringe venues for Bradford 2025.

To this end, a member of staff from the School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences has been seconded two days a week to the City of Culture team.