A 3D model of the Lavra Caves was created in Ukraine: details

3D model of the Lavra Caves

Ministry of Culture and Information Policy

A 3D model of the caves located on the territory of the Kyiv Cave Lavra National Reserve has appeared in Ukraine.

She developed it the Skeiron team, specializing in laser scanning of cultural heritage, at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, reported in the department’s press service.

“The virtual model is freely available. It will help to restore the object in case of destruction, and will also contribute to the popularization of the history of Kyiv.” – noted in the MKIP.

Monastic life began in these caves in the middle of the 11th century. The caves are located at a depth of 5 to 15 meters, and their total length is almost 900 meters.

The creation of a virtual model of caves is important for Ukraine, say the developers. After all, it is a monument of architecture, archeology, history and culture, where the founder of the monastery Anthony is buried, as well as the relics of 125 saints.

Thanks to new technologies, the underground object can be explored virtually.

3D model available at the Sketchfab platform. Instead, a detailed version is stored on a separate server and is only available by individual e-mail request [email protected]. It can be used only for non-commercial purposes and after obtaining permission from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

The process of digitizing the caves lasted over a month and took place in two stages: first, the team worked directly in the caves with a laser scanner. The work was difficult because of the low ceilings, which made it necessary to work almost on one’s knees, experts say. Then the obtained data were processed in the office.

“This allows you to permanently preserve a detailed digital model of architectural monuments, which can be referred to in the event of destruction or damage, in order to restore the heritage object as close as possible to its original state.

Such an approach at one time helped to start the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which suffered significant destruction after a fire in 2019,” – experts explained.

The caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra became the 80th object of the Skeiron team as part of the #SaveUkrainianHeritage project. It was launched in March 2022 in order to digitally preserve the unique structures of Ukraine, which are threatened with destruction due to Russian armed aggression.

We will remind in Ukraine launched a virtual museum of war memory, which showed the consequences of the Russian invasion of the Kyiv region.