CyArk Wants to Save World’s Cultural Heritage Sites

CyArk uses 3D-laser scanners to create digital copies of heritage sites like the pyramid El Castillo at Chichen Itza in Mexico.

That was the alarm sounded at a press conference hosted by CyArk, a non-profit organization that uses laser scanners to create accurate digital copies of these sites for preservation and educational purposes. Speaking to a crowd of more than 200 at the Tower of London, CyArk launched a initiative to digitally preserve 500 heritage sites within the next five years and unveiled a new fund to help finance the effort.

CyArk urged the assembly, which included foreign ambassadors, government officials, cultural representatives, corporate executives and others from 35 countries, to support the newly created CyArk 500 Challenge through the CyArk 500 Fund.

Governments and individuals can nominate sites for preservation and donate money to support the cause via the organization’s website. Heritage sites will then be reviewed for selection and funding consideration by an international advisory council of heritage experts assembled by CyArk.

“Our mission is to create a 3D-digital library of the world’s most important heritage sites,” said Ben Kacyra, who co-founded CyArk along with his wife Barbara. “While there isn’t enough time or money to save all these sites physically, we have the technology to digitally preserve them. By doing so, we will ensure that these treasures are available for appreciation and study for years to come. It’s not an option; it’s our responsibility. Otherwise, we will lose our shared history and an important piece of our cultural identity.”

CyArk utilizes 3D-laser scanning and other reality-capture technologies to create digital models of the sites accurate to within 2-6 mm. From that data, CyArk develops tools to aid conservators in the management and preservation of the location. Additionally, the organization produces educational materials, virtual tourism opportunities, as well as digital renderings that are available to the public at CyArk WebSite.

Protecting the data
Headquartered in Oakland, CA, with European operations in Edinburgh, Scotland, CyArk captures billions of data points with each heritage project. That can mean as much as 10TB per project. To protect this data, CyArk relies on Iron Mountain, Inc., the information storage and management company that became a charitable partner in 2012.

Iron Mountain stores data of each heritage site in an underground storage bunker in western Pennsylvania. The security facility is guarded 24/7 and home to other priceless cultural collections, such as timeless movies like E.T. and Jaws from NBCUniversal, Inc. and iconic recordings from Universal Music Group musicians like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.

Harold Ebbighausen, president of Iron Mountain, North America, spoke of the company’s work with CyArk: “This effort allows us to apply the skills and expertise we’ve acquired over the last 60 years, helping organizations protect and manage valuable information, to a cause we care deeply about. We’re proud to play a role in preserving and facilitating access to these important heritage sites.”

The 500
As part of the launch, CyArk recognized during a special ceremony 40 sites within its archive as examples of the work it will perform during the CyArk 500. These sites include Pompeii, Babylon, Mt. Rushmore, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Titanic, the Sydney Opera House and, most recently, the Tower of London.

Future projects will be evaluated for inclusion into the CyArk 500 by the CyArk Advisory Council, chaired by Gustavo Araoz, president of the International Council of Monuments and Sites.

“The first task of the Advisory Council was to develop criteria for selecting the CyArk 500,” said council chair Araoz. “While the risk factor will be a chief criterion in selecting sites, we want to use the technology beyond mere documentation to promote capacity building in all regions, and to assist management in periodic monitoring, interpretation, public awareness, and promotion of visitation.“