Training for Long-Term Digital Preservation of the World's Wooden Heritage
Traditional wooden architecture has shaped cultural identities for centuries, but today, many of these historic structures face serious threats, from climate change to depopulation to armed conflict. The Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme (EWAP), hosted by Oxford Brookes University, is providing funding for organisations to document, study, and protect these wooden architectural traditions. Each project involves close collaboration with local experts, institutions, and communities to ensure documentation is both respectful and practical. Through fieldwork, training, and community engagement, these projects are empowering a new generation of conservation professionals to safeguard this irreplaceable heritage.
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| EWAPs Romania Project training. © ȘUTEU 2023 |
Hands-on Training in 3D Documentation Methods
A cornerstone of EWAP’s training program has been its partnership with CyArk, a nonprofit leader in digital heritage documentation and interpretation. Through this collaboration, EWAP grantees received specialist instruction in 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry, enabling the accurate and non-invasive documentation of complex wooden structures. Participants engaged in a structured 3-to-4-week virtual training program covering every stage of digital documentation. In the Terrestrial Photogrammetry Data Capture module, trainees developed field skills in high-resolution photography, site scoping, and capturing large architectural features. Personalized feedback helped participants build confidence and consistency in their workflows. This was followed by Photogrammetry Processing and Modeling training, guiding users through the full RealityCapture process, from image alignment and mesh generation to editing, UV unwrapping, and publishing outputs on platforms like Sketchfab.
For LiDAR scanning, CyArk’s training emphasized both
foundational principles and the hands-on operation of terrestrial laser
scanning equipment. Participants learned how to plan projects, capture precise
3D data, and integrate scans with photogrammetry to produce
millimetre-accurate, photo-textured models. These skills are essential for
producing high-fidelity digital replicas that serve conservation, academic
research, and public engagement.
So far, more than 350 wooden structures have been digitally
documented across EWAP projects. CyArk’s comprehensive methodology, which
combines high-precision LiDAR with both aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry,
equips heritage professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to digitally document cultural heritage sites in rich detail, ensuring they remain
accessible for future generations. All materials are archived and made
accessible online, creating a global resource in case disaster strikes. This is
particularly critical in countries like Ukraine, where CyArk has separately
trained dozens of professionals to digitize at-risk cultural heritage amid
ongoing threats.
From Trainees to
Trainers: Growing a Network of Preservation Experts
Following their initial training through the EWAP grant, many project teams are now using their skills to train others, expanding regional capacity for heritage preservation. This ripple effect is helping to establish local networks of expertise in 3D documentation, ensuring that the knowledge and tools gained are not confined to a single institution or project. In Romania, India, Chile, and beyond, grantees are mentoring students, collaborating with local museums, and running workshops to share digital preservation techniques with broader communities. By investing in people as well as technology, the EWAP grant is not only facilitating the documentation of endangered wooden architecture but also helping to build a sustainable foundation for long-term cultural resilience across regions.
Case Study: The
Wooden Churches of Maramureș, Romania
Mission & Scope
The wooden churches of Maramureș, dating from the 16th century onwards, are unique emblematic structures blending Orthodox tradition and vernacular carpentry. Today over 1400 churches exist, demonstrating several different building techniques from log-built blockbau systems, vertical framing, and wattle-and-daub, but they are faceing increasing threats from neglect, environmental damage, and the loss of traditional craftsmanship. This EWAP-funded project targeted 26 endangered wooden churches, with the dual aim of preserving them digitally and establishing a regional technology teaching hub to sustain future recording efforts.
Methodology &
Digital Documentation
Local teams, trained through EWAP’s partnership with CyArk, conducted LiDAR scanning and photogrammetry to generate precise imagery of each church’s architecture. Documentation was complemented by field surveys, architectural drawings, and oral histories, enabling a holistic record of both the physical and cultural dimensions of heritage buildings. All documentation is now housed in EWAP’s open-access digital repository, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility for researchers, conservationists, and local communities. Interested parties can also access 3D models of the buildings in Sketchfab - https://skfb.ly/puPMq.
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| Collapsed church © ȘUTEU 2023 |
Impact & Future
Capacity Building
Beyond preservation, the project established a sustainable
regional framework, purchasing equipment and training local professionals to
lead future documentation and teaching activities. By integrating digital tools
into local heritage practice, the initiative empowers regional partners to
continue documenting at-risk wooden churches, extend training, and embed
recording methodologies in future conservation projects. This approach not only
preserves architectural heritage but also strengthens local expertise and
community-driven heritage stewardship across Eastern Europe.
You can view this project archive here - https://doi.org/10.60491/ewap1026lg043025027
The EWAP archive can be accessed here
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| 3D model © ȘUTEU 2025 |
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