STANDARDIZING 3D EVIDENCE COLLECTION FOR DOCUMENTING CULTURAL HERITAGE DESTRUCTION IN CONFLICT ZONES: INSIGHTS FROM UKRAINE

Kacey Hadick; Dr. Simon Radchenko

Paper Title

Authors

Kacey Hadick
Dr. Simon Radchenko

Modality

Abstract

Subject area

5. Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Cultural heritage is increasingly vulnerable to disasters and conflicts and subject to rapid destruction, as evidenced by the recent fires, floods, earthquakes and escalating armed conflicts in different parts of the world. At the General Assembly 2023 in Sydney, ICOMOS Advisory Committee approved the theme of “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Preparedness, Response and Recovery” as the theme for the Triennial Scientific Plan 2024-2027. In keeping with the spirit of open, innovative, constructive intergenerational dialogue, and the strategic focus, this sub-theme will address the suitability of the Venice Charter with the theme of disaster and conflict-resilient heritage, emphasizing its broader implications for heritage discourse, development models, and resilience strategies.

Publishing Date

11/04/2025

Country of Publishing

Brazil | Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/848022-standardizing-3d-evidence-collection-for-documenting-cultural-heritage-destruction-in-conflict-zones--insights-fr

ISBN

978-65-272-1284-3

Keywords

3D recording technologies, cultural heritage destruction, war crimes, evidence collection, Ukraine conflict, legal admissibility, digitization workflows, heritage preservation, multidisciplinary collaboration, data collection standards, justice, photogrammetry, 3D documentation, prosecution, archaeological site documentation

Summary

This paper outlines how 3D recording technologies can be rapidly deployed to document the intentional destruction of cultural heritage, thereby supporting war crime prosecution. The conflict in Ukraine marks one of the first instances where evidence of such destruction is being collected in near real-time. At the same time, prosecutors are overwhelmed with their caseloads and are unfamiliar with 3D documentation protocols and outputs, as well as the legal nuances required for admissibility in court. Despite the availability of 3D recording technology among various groups in Ukraine, efforts remain disorganized and lack standardization, complicating the legal use of collected data. Developed from a thorough needs assessment involving Ukrainian prosecutors, Truth Hounds staff, and cultural heritage experts, this paper presents the opportunities posed by 3D data collection within a comprehensive evidence-gathering strategy. It provides an overview of 3D recording technologies and their historical use as evidence, illustrated by a practical case study involving 850 photographs of a damaged Ukrainian archaeological site. The site was digitized using two distinct 3D documentation workflows, highlighting the capabilities and limitations associated with each technique. The analysis concludes with several recommendations, including comprehensive training programs for legal professionals, standard operating procedures for data capture, guidance on software selection for data processing, the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, and establishing uniform data collection standards to enhance the legal admissibility of 3D evidence. This paper aims to empower practitioners with the knowledge and tools to leverage 3D technologies to pursue justice, emphasizing the potential global impact of these innovative tools in documenting and prosecuting cultural heritage destruction worldwide.

Title of the Event: ICOMOS SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM 2024
City of the Event: Ouro Preto
Title of the Proceedings of the event: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

HADICK, Kacey; RADCHENKO, Dr. Simon. STANDARDIZING 3D EVIDENCE COLLECTION FOR DOCUMENTING CULTURAL HERITAGE DESTRUCTION IN CONFLICT ZONES: INSIGHTS FROM UKRAINE.. In: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings. Anais...Ouro Preto(MG) Convention Center / UFOP/ UFMG Campus, 2024. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/848022-STANDARDIZING-3D-EVIDENCE-COLLECTION-FOR-DOCUMENTING-CULTURAL-HERITAGE-DESTRUCTION-IN-CONFLICT-ZONES--INSIGHTS-FR. Access in: 14/07/2025