Digital Technology Breakthrough Protects Longmen Grottoes

Researchers at the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute are using high-precision digital technology to combat erosion and water damage. Digital scanning and high-precision data collection are being used to create comprehensive digital resource databases to combat erosion from wind and water. The institute's project on 3D modeling and automatic understanding of Dunhuang patterns was selected as an excellent case for digital cultural heritage by the World Internet Conference. Researcher Zhang Guofeng noted that these digital resources allow for the reconstruction of sites in the event of irreversible damage. A research and heritage monitoring team at the Longmen Grottoes is utilizing advanced technology to preserve ancient stone carvings. The team, consisting of 52 members with 71% under the age of 35, focuses on digital preservation and moisture control. They are using modified materials for waterproofing and local natural materials to mitigate environmental erosion. Recent efforts have successfully identified new inscriptions during the preservation process. While the complex contains 2,345 caves, the project focuses on approximately 50 representative caves. The initiative includes the digitization of the Diamond Sutra found at the site. This effort aims to preserve the historical text through digital means. Zhang Guofeng of the institute noted the strong academic atmosphere regarding the preservation of thousand-year-old art.