Heritage gets a tech upgrade: Digital archiving giving Gateway of India, Mysore Palace a new lease of life
The 3D scan project shows how imaging technology is throwing open the portals of history.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
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More than a century after it was erected, the Gateway of India continues to attract thousands of visitors each day.
By Rohan Abraham
The 3D scan project for the Gateway of India shows how imaging technology is throwing open the portals of history.
The advent of superior imaging technology has helped local bodies around the world archive and document monuments, thereby helping in their preservation. Recently, field work was underway at the Gateway of India.
“The project of making 3D scans of the Gateway of India is beneficial for creating an accessible digital database of the monument, ensuring its protection and the formulation of comprehensive conservation policies,” said Tejas Garge, directorate of archaeology and museums, Government of Maharashtra.
The Gateway of India's proximity to the sea has made it vulnerable to discolouration and dampness. Digital preservation More than a century after it was erected, the Gateway of India continues to attract thousands of visitors each day. However, the ravages of time are beginning to leave a mark on the basalt edifice.
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Its proximity to the sea has made it vulnerable to discolouration and dampness. “The salt spray emanating from the shore has eroded the quality of the building’s rock façade. The stairwell that leads up to the dome is also in need of repair,” said Christopher Dang, field director, CyArk, a global non-profit working on digital preservation of monuments.
Image processing The exercise, led by a two-member CyArk team, was undertaken through aerial surveys using drones, terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry. The scattered images collected will be stitched together to create a holistic rendering that provides an accurate panoramic replica of the original image.
“Since the introduction of drone laws in India, it is no longer feasible for us to operate one independently. Moreover, the site happens to be near sensitive military installations. So, we had to partner with a domestic company, Quidich Innovation Labs, to collect aerial shots,” said Avidan Fernandes, field capture specialist, CyArk. The next project for CyArk is the Mysore Palace. Democratising culture
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Digital tourism is yet to pick up in a big way, but Dang believes that archival footage of monuments can help in restoration.
“If certain parts of a monument, such as a door, needs replacement, then the authorities can refer to the digital archive before engaging a fabricator to create a replica,” he said.
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The digital archives are mostly published online, under a public license. Some of the monuments that have been preserved by CyArk are also available on the Google Arts and Culture app, whereby users can take a digital tour of the premises using virtual reality headsets.
The next project for Dang is the Mysore Palace, and the local body in charge of its preservation is in the process of acquiring government permits for the team to use sophisticated imaging devices at the site. The final rendering of the Gateway of India is expected to be completed by May 2019. Old buildings are not invincible, and digital archiving may yet give them a new lease of life.
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