The Application of Digital Graphics Software in Cultural Heritage Restoration: Documentation, Reconstruction, and Visualisation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47451/her2025-05-01Keywords:
klironomy, cultural heritage restoration, graphic programmes, digital graphics software, 2D graphics programmes, 3D graphics programmes, archaeological sites, digital documentation, reconstruction of cultural heritage, visualisation of cultural heritageAbstract
The preservation, documentation, and restoration of cultural heritage present one of the most significant challenges in contemporary scholarship, a field that integrates archaeology, history, architecture, and digital technologies. As tangible and intangible heritage remains under threat from a multitude of factors, including natural degradation, armed conflict, climate change, and urban development, the development of innovative tools for documentation and reconstruction has become a critical necessity. Within this context, digital graphics software has emerged as a cornerstone of modern cultural heritage research, providing professionals with new methods for recording, visualising, and reconstructing artefacts and monuments with an unprecedented degree of precision and accessibility. The distinction between 2D and 3D graphics applications is central to this field, with both types of software serving indispensable functions in heritage preservation. The subject of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics, advantages, and applications of key 2D and 3D graphics programmes within the context of cultural heritage restoration. The object of the study is the broad range of cultural heritage assets, including artefacts, monuments, and historical structures, as well as the digital tools used to preserve them. The study aims to explore the role of digital graphics software in advancing non-invasive recording, precise reconstruction, and effective knowledge dissemination in cultural heritage restoration. The study demonstrates that digital graphics software is a fundamental tool for documentation, reconstruction, and visualisation in cultural heritage restoration. By analysing a range of 2D and 3D platforms, this paper has highlighted their capacity to facilitate precise and non-invasive methods of recording and preservation. The transition to digital workflows not only enhances the accuracy of documentation but also democratises access to historical objects, allowing for their study and appreciation by a wider audience, including the general public and international researchers. The creation of detailed 3D models from laser scans and photogrammetry, in particular, offers a powerful means of digitally restoring structures and artefacts that are damaged or no longer exist. This capability is vital for cultural preservation, as it safeguards historical data against future loss and provides new avenues for scholarly inquiry. The authors conclude that the application of digital graphics software represents a paradigm shift in cultural heritage restoration. It allows us to move beyond passive documentation to an active, dynamic form of preservation that is both scientifically robust and widely accessible. The digital revolution offers a powerful and sustainable means of ensuring that the narratives and material evidence of our shared past endure for future generations, serving as an irreplaceable resource for education, research, and cultural appreciation.
Downloads
References
A review of recent advances in GIS applications for archaeology. (1998). Chicago: National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.
Acke, L., De Vis, K., Verwulgen, S., & Verlinden, J. (2021). Survey and literature study to provide insights on the application of 3D technologies in cultural heritage conservation-restoration. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 49, 272-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2020.12.003
Autodesk. (2024a). Autodesk Maya. Heritage Innovation Lab. https://marketplace.heritageinnovation.eu/product/autodesk-maya/
Autodesk. (2024b). Sustainable Architectural Preservation. Autodesk. https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/aec/architectural-preservation/
Bornstein, D., & Keep, T. J. (2023). New Dimensions in Conservation Imaging: Combining Photogrammetry and Photometric Stereo for 3D Documentation of Heritage Artefacts. AICCM Bulletin, 44(1–2), 148–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/10344233.2023.2288467
Boussetta, B. (2023, April 19). 3D modeling and cultural heritage: Preserving the past through digital reconstruction. Medium. https://medium.com/%40badreddinebousseta/3d-modeling-and-cultural-heritage-preserving-the-past-through-digital-reconstruction-ce0695260504
Buna, Z., Popescu, D., Comes, R., Badiu, I., & Mateescu, R. (2014). Engineering CAD tools in digital archaeology. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 14, 83–91.
Buychik, A. (2020). Klironomy as a systematic scientific approach to the preservation of cultural heritage: its place in the educational system. Scientific Trends: Philology, Cultural Studies, Art History. Collection of Scientific Papers Based on the Materials of the 19th International Scientific and Practical Conference, 29–34. (In Russ.)
Buychik, A. (2021). The relevance of the formation of the science of the cultural heritage preservation as the evolution of social and scientific thought. Scientific View on the Modern Problems of Cultural Heritage and Arts in the Context of Social Development. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference. Klironomy, 1(1), 7–21. https://doi.org/10.47451/her2021-06-001
Buychik, A. (2024). Klironomy: The Science of Cultural Heritage. Ostrava: Tuculart Edition, European Institute for Innovation Development.
Casana, J., Laugier, E. J., Hill, A. C., Reese, K. M., Ferwerda, C., McCoy, D., & Ladefoged, T. (2021). Exploring archaeological landscapes using drone-acquired lidar: Case studies from Hawai’i, Colorado, and New Hampshire, USA. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 39, 103133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103133
Chapinal-Heras, D., Díaz-Sánchez, C., Gómez-García, N., España-Chamorro, S., Pagola-Sánchez, L., López de Corselas, M. P., & Rey-Álvarez Zafiria, M. E. (2024). Photogrammetry, 3D modelling and printing: The creation of high-quality 3D models for cultural heritage conservation. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 33, e00341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2024.e00341
Charbonneau, N., Spiric, N., Blais, V., Robichaud, L., & Burgess, J. (2018). 4D modelling of built heritage: A system offering an alternative to using BIM. Digital Studies, 8, 8. https://doi.org/10.16995/dscn.283
Ciccone, G. (2024). Using QGIS as an ideal workspace for archaeogeography: A case study on Castronovo di Sicilia. Proceedings, 96(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2024096011
Conolly, J. (2012). Geographical information systems in archaeology. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511807459
Digital Tools for Cultural Heritage Preservation. (2024, November 28). Pix4D. https://www.pix4d.com/blog/digital-tools-heritage-preservation-pix4dcatch/
Documenting Archaeological Sites with Drone Mapping. (2017, October 19). Pix4D. https://www.pix4d.com/blog/documenting-large-complex-archaeological-environments-drone-mapping/
Drone Surveying 101: From GSD to Point Clouds. (2024, May 15). DroneDeploy. https://www.dronedeploy.com/blog/drone-surveying-101-from-gsd-to-point-clouds/
Duarte, L., Gomes, A., Teodoro, A. C., & Monteiro-Rodrigues, S. (2018). QGIS approach to extract fluvial terraces for archaeological purposes using remote sensing data. FOSS4G-Europe 2018 Conference Proceedings, 18. https://doi.org/10.7275/9csb-0e44
Finding Secrets of the Past with Drones and Mobile Scans. (2022, May 2025). Pix4D. https://www.pix4d.com/blog/uncovering-archaeological-sites-with-drones-mobile-phones/
Fiz, J. I., Martín, P. M., Cuesta, R., Subías, E., Codina, D., & Cartes, A. (2022). Examples and results of aerial photogrammetry in archeology with UAV: Geometric documentation, high resolution multispectral analysis, models and 3D printing. Drones, 6(3), 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones6030059
GeoPlot: About. (2007). CAIDA. https://www.caida.org/catalog/software/geoplot/
Green, K., Niven, K., & Field, G. (2016). Migrating 2 and 3D datasets: Preserving AutoCAD at the archaeology data service. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 5(4), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi5040044
Howland, M., Kuester, F., & Levy, T. (2014). Photogrammetry in the field: Documenting, recording, and presenting archaeology. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 14, 101–108.
Inomata, T. (2024). Lidar, space, and time in archaeology: Promises and challenges. Annual Review of Anthropology, 53, 75–92. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anthro-041222-093758
Jones, C. A., & Church, E. (2020). Photogrammetry is for everyone: Structure-from-motion software user experiences in archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 30, 102261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102261
Kingsland, K. (2020). Comparative analysis of digital photogrammetry software for cultural heritage. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 18, e00157.
Kostrzewa, A., Płatek-Żak, A., Banat, P., & Wilk, Ł. (2025). Open-source vs. commercial photogrammetry: Comparing accuracy and efficiency of OpenDroneMap and Agisoft Metashape. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLVIII-1/W4-2025, 65–72. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-1-W4-2025-65-2025
Kvamme, K. (2018). Getting around the Black Box: Teaching (geophysical) data processing through GIS. Journal of Computer Application in Archaeology, 1, 74–87. https://doi.org/10.5334/jcaa.14
Lock, G., & Pouncett, J. (2017). Spatial thinking in archaeology: Is GIS the answer? Journal of Archaeological Science, 84, 129–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2017.06.002
Luo, L., Wang, X., & Guo, H. (2022). Remote sensing archaeology: The next century. Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.)), 3(6), 100335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100335
Luo, L., Wang, X., Guo, H., Jia, X., & Fan, A. (2023). Earth observation in archaeology: A brief review. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 116, 103169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2022.103169
Mapping Megaliths in 3D: Digital Tools for Archaeology. (2025, May 7). Pix4D. https://www.pix4d.com/blog/3d-mapping-digital-tools-archaeology/
Mapping the Past: Pix4D and the Future of Archaeology. (2023, December 19). Pix4D. https://www.pix4d.com/blog/Mapping-the-past-pix4d-archaeology/
Menéndez-Marsh, F., Al-Rawi, M., Fonte, J., Dias, R., Gonçalves L. J., Gonçalves Seco, L., Hipólito, J., Machado, J. P., Medina, J., Moreira, J., Pereiro, T. do, Vázquez, M., & Neves, A. (2023). Geographic information systems in archaeology: A systematic review. Journal of Computer Application in Archaeology, 6(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.5334/jcaa.104
New Philadelphia Archaeological Project. (n.d.). Jistorical Archeaology. https://www.histarch.illinois.edu/np/geophys_method_data.html
Nicu, I. C., Mihu-Pintilie, A., & Williamson, J. (2019). GIS-based and statistical approaches in archaeological predictive modelling (NE Romania). Sustainability, 11(21), 5969. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11215969
Penjor, T., Banihashemi, S., Hajirasouli, A., & Golzad, H. (2024). Heritage building information modeling (HBIM) for conservation of cultural heritage buildings. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 35, e00366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2024.e00366
Petras, E. (2021, April 3). Creating a 3D Map of an archaeological site in Blender. Temple. https://sites.temple.edu/tudsc/2021/04/03/creating-a-3d-map-of-an-archaeological-site-in-blender/
Sensing the Iron Age and Roman past: Geophysics and the landscape of Hertfordshire. (2015, September 7). Hertfordshire Archaeology. https://hertsgeosurvey.wordpress.com/tag/terrasurveyor/
Soto-Martín, O. (2013). 3D reconstruction & traditional illustrations, a non-invasive resource for the practice and teaching of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Procedia Computer Science, 25, 247–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2013.11.030
TerraSurveyor64. (n.d.). DW Consulting. https://dwconsulting.nl/terrasurveyor64/
Using Drone Technology for Academic Research at the University of Pennsylvania. (2022, March 16). DroneDeploy. https://www.dronedeploy.com/blog/the-university-of-pennsylvania/
Vilbig, J. M., Sagan, V., & Bodine, C. (2020). Archaeological surveying with airborne LiDAR and UAV photogrammetry: A comparative analysis at Cahokia Mounds. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 33, 102509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102509
Vinci, G., Vanzani, F., Fontana, A., & Campana, S. (2024). LiDAR applications in archaeology: A systematic review. Archaeological Protection, 32, 81–101. https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1931
Waas, M. (2014). Practical 3D photogrammetry for the conservation and documentation of cultural heritage. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies 2013.
Yang, C., & Liu, Y. (2024). Preserving sculptural heritage in the Era of Digital Transformation. Sustainability, 16(13), 5349. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135349
Zhang, J., Liu, Z., & Liu, S. (2019). Computer simulation of archaeological drawings. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 37, 181–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2018.11.014
Zhao, Q., & Lyu, Q. (2021). The application of AutoCAD in the drawing of archaeological artifacts—line plot surveying and mapping of standard and complete artifacts. 2021 International Conference on Applications and Techniques in Cyber Intelligence, 429–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79200-8_62
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 European Scientific e-Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The European Scientific e-Journal (ESEJ) is an open access journal. Articles are available free of charge as PDF files on the website of the European Institute for Innovation Development. PDF files can be previewed with Acrobat Reader from www.adobe.com.
All articles of the “Tuculart Student Scientific” are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic (CC BY 4.0) International license.
According to the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic (CC BY 4.0) International license, the users are free to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially (the licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms).
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
