Cultural Heritage Analysis for New GEnerations — CHANGE

For many years, The Faculty of Mechatronics has been developing the methods of analysis and research of the cultural heritage sites with optical methods, starting with geometry measurements, through the analysis of defects and damage, to distortions on their surfaces. The team from our Faculty is one of the initiators of the CHANGE project initiative.

The CHANGE project (https://change-itn.eu) revolves around conducting innovative research in respect to supporting the process of documenting and monitoring the status of cultural heritage sites. The work is conducted by a team of 15 postgraduates, together constituting an international group. Two of these postgraduate studies take place at our Faculty:

• Athanasia Papanikolaou – „Portable multi modal device(s) for surface measurement/monitoring” – this paper tackles the issue of designing an innovative, portable device for documenting data with the simultaneous use of several measurement techniques,
• Sunita Saha – “Analysis and visalization of multi modal image data in cultural heritage surfaces monitoring” – the paper takes on the issue of devising new analysis methods for changes of the surface of monuments, facilitating the process of monitoring the status of these sites.

The project is executed by an international consortium coordinated by Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway):

• Warsaw University of Technology,
• Center for research & restoration for French Museum - C2RMF at Louvre, Paris,
• University Bourgogne Franche-Comte
• University of Oslo
• Cyprus University of Technology
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
• University of Amsterdam
• Swiss National Museum

Furthermore, the project is supported by partner organisations:

• The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo
• Norsk Elektro Optikk AS
• Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów, Warsaw
• Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
• Germolles Ducal Palace in Burgundy
• 7Reasons Medien GmbH
• Hexagon DEU01 GmbH
• Rijksmuseum
• Institut National du Patrimoine

Cooperation with our Faculty students is most welcome as a part of the project tasks. The area of the project is very wide and enables work into many different directions. It is also possible to write one’s diploma paper on this topic.

The expected effect of the project is the design of new research methods and supporting tools, facilitating everyday work with the monuments, making correct, facts-based judgement of their status and early detection of potential threats.

The works in the field of monuments preservation in Europe are continuous. Our Faculty team boasts an international renown in this area and we hope that  new projects and technological challenges will emerge in the future.