3D Documentation of Cultural Heritage at Risk: Methods, Tools and Practice.

3D-4CH contributes to Heritage at Risk Summer School 2026 in Ferrara

This week, the 3D-4CH project joined the Heritage at Risk Summer School 2026 in Ferrara, contributing to two days of discussions and practical training focused on the role of 3D technologies in safeguarding cultural heritage under threat.

Organised within the framework of 3DBigDataSpace and hosted by the Department of Architecture at the University of Ferrara, the Summer School brings together researchers, heritage professionals, and technical experts working on the documentation and preservation of heritage in contexts affected by natural disasters, climate-related risks, and armed conflict.

 

Linking technology and practice

For 3D-4CH, participation in the Summer School reflects one of the project’s central objectives: strengthening skills and practical knowledge around 3D digitisation within the cultural heritage sector.

Members of the consortium are contributing to both the theoretical and hands-on components of the programme, supporting sessions on:

 

• 3D documentation workflows
• Photogrammetry and laser scanning
• Mobile mapping systems
• Data processing and reconstruction techniques
• European frameworks for heritage protection

A particular contribution from the 3D-4CH network comes from Pixelated Realities NGO, whose representatives Iana Boitsova and Fedir Boitsov are leading the session:

“Documenting Built Heritage in war zones: experiences and lessons learned from Ukraine”

Their lecture highlights current documentation efforts in war-affected areas and reflects on the practical, ethical, and technical challenges of preserving cultural heritage under conditions of conflict. The session offers important first-hand perspectives on how digital documentation can support emergency response, preservation, and future recovery processes.

 

 

The role of the 3D-4CH Competence Centre

The Summer School further underlined the importance of training and knowledge exchange within the broader European digital heritage landscape. Through its involvement, 3D-4CH continues to develop the Online Competence Centre in 3D for Cultural Heritage as a long-term resource for professionals, institutions, and researchers working with 3D technologies. Beyond technical infrastructure, the project focuses on creating sustainable support structures for capacity building, collaboration, and access to expertise.

Workshops such as the Heritage at Risk Summer School are an important part of this effort, providing space for direct exchange between technology providers, heritage institutions, and practitioners working in the field.

 

A growing European community around 3D heritage

One of the defining aspects of the Summer School was its interdisciplinary and international character. Participants from different backgrounds and sectors came together around a shared question: how can digital tools meaningfully support the preservation of cultural heritage in increasingly complex environments?

As 3D technologies become more embedded in heritage workflows across Europe, initiatives such as 3D-4CH aim to ensure that expertise, methodologies, and practical experience remain accessible and shared across the sector.

 

More information about the Summer School is available here.