30We’re at a time when famous landmarks are endangered objects. With wars, changing weather, and tourism a historic site is liable to face irreparable damage. The kind of damage landmarks are facing these days means that many people will likely not get to see them in all their splendor. Also, besides those facing damage, there are ancient landmarks that are not open to the public and others that are quite difficult to reach. That is why Google Art has partnered up with the digital preservationists at CyArk (Cyber Archive) to help save these monuments.
The Open Heritage project, by Google Art and CyArk, offers online visitors a virtual library with 30 historic sites across several countries. The library displays those sites as 3D models, using laser scans, VR footage, and other high-tech methods. Moreover, the project provides information about each landmark, including the date of its preservation.
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Preserving from Natural Disasters
The Open Heritage project has a chronicle of Ananda Ok Kyaung Temple which faced partial damage during the 2016 Myanmar Earthquake. The earthquake was so strong that the temple’s spyres and masonry collapsed. Luckily, the Open Heritage Project captured the monument before the earthquake hit the country. Using LiDAR laser scanning, CyArk was able to collect 3D points to create a precise likeness of the monument. As for areas that were inaccessible by the scanner, drones were used to collect the points. Also, a robotic head was used to collect high-resolution imagery. The combination of all these methods led to the creation of an accurate model of the ancient Buddhist Temple.
Preserving from Terrorism
The Open Heritage project commits itself to the creation of renderings of historic sites that are not only prone to facing natural disasters but also terrorism. In fact, the organization of CyArk began when founder Ben Kacyra saw Buddhist statues being destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. By scanning the Royal Kasubi Tombs in Uganda, CyArk was able to preserve an accurate rendering of the monument. When arsonists burned the tombs down in 2010, the imagery CyArk had created was deemed invaluable for its reconstruction.
The Losing Battle
However, in a TED talk about the project, founder Ben Kacyra acknowledges that CyArk is fighting a losing battle. In the face of human-caused destruction, which is accelerating day by day, CyArk had to work fast. To preserve a historic site before damage befalls it, Kacyra set a goal. He set the CyArk 500 challenge, with aim of preserving 500 heritage sites in 5 years. Kacyra believes the task is easy to accomplish because CyArk has a global network of partners. He also sees the ‘500’ as only a starting point to further monument preservation efforts.
Sustainability Through Technology
The project prides itself on sustainable practice. By partnering up with local universities in the area, CyArk gives institutions, in many countries, the opportunity to work with new technologies. The partnership allows CyArk to get the needed help from local institutions while also teaching them about the latest preservation techniques.
To access these 3D historic sites, you can download the Google Arts and Culture App on iOS and Android. Users of Google Daydream can additionally view the heritage sites in VR. As for the 3D source data, anyone can download them, for restoration or study purposes. All they need to do is send a request to Open Heritage.
All Images Courtesy Of Google Art and CyArk