More than 7,500 graffiti inscriptions on the walls of St. Sophia's Cathedral will be digitized in collaboration with Swedish experts, according to the National Reserve.
At a meeting with the Director-General of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv," Nelia Kukovalska, the Director of the National Museum of Ukrainian History Fedor Androshchuk, researchers, and experts from the reserve, the project was presented by professors from the Swedish University, Gunnar Almevik, and Jonathan Vestin.
The project's goal is to use laser scanning, photogrammetry, and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) technology to create a 3D model of graffiti images for digital documentation and preservation. The information, which will be used by both researchers and the general public, will be stored on servers in Ukraine and Sweden.
Ukrainian-Swedish collaboration in the field of cultural heritage conservation and preservation has been ongoing for many years, and this project is realized through the efforts of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv," the National Historical Museum of Ukraine, the University of Gothenburg, and the support of several grantors, including Swedish institutions such as the Swedish Research Council FORMAS, the Royal Swedish Academy of Literature, History, and Antiquities, and the Swedish National Heritage Board.
"The use of advanced technologies such as 3D scanning is crucial for the preservation and popularization of our cultural heritage, especially in the conditions of war," noted Nelia Kukovalska, the Director-General of the reserve.
"This international global project is a bright page in Ukrainian-Swedish cooperation in the conservation and preservation of Ukraine's cultural heritage, aiming not only to preserve it but also to represent it globally," summarized Fedir Androshchuk, the Director-General of the National Museum of Ukrainian History.
Currently, Swedish experts from the University of Gothenburg are sharing their knowledge with Ukrainian specialists. Since the process of digital documentation is quite labor-intensive, the team plans to complete the first stage of the project by the end of this year.
