Ukraine to digitize 500 military artifacts from war against Russia

Ukraine has announced plans to digitize 500 military artifacts from its modern War of Independence, spanning from 2014 to the present, in preparation for the Day of Remembrance of Ukraine's Defenders on August 29. The initiative, called the Digital Museumification of Contemporary Military Heritage project, aims to create a high-quality electronic archive of the artifacts, along with an extensive multimedia audio guide.

This project is being spearheaded by the National Military History Museum of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Center for Museum Development NGO, and the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, all backed by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

The National Military History Museum boasts a vast collection documenting the evolution of Ukrainian armed forces, from ancient times through the Cossack era, the Ukrainian People's Republic, and the Second Liberation Struggle of 1938-1945, with a particular focus on the country's modern history and the ongoing War of Independence.

This collection encompasses uniforms, military equipment, flags, decorations, maps, documents, and personal belongings of servicemen. Museum staff are continually amassing artifacts from the current conflict as the situation unfolds.

One of the project's primary objectives is to generate an interactive digital environment that safeguards Ukraine's contemporary military heritage, irrespective of the fate of the original objects. To achieve this, the artifacts will undergo thorough professional documentation via 3D scanning and high-resolution photography. The digitization process will adhere to international preservation-imaging standards, including FADGI and Metamorfoze, as well as data-management standards like ISO 21127, SKOS, and IIIF.

Once digitized, all materials pertaining to the 500 artifacts will be archived and incorporated into the electronic register of Ukraine's Museum Fund. The preserved data will also serve as the foundation for a multimedia audio guide in Ukrainian and English, complete with 35 video segments featuring top-notch photographs and 3D models of the artifacts. Visitors will be able to access these materials through QR codes both within the museum and online from any location worldwide.

Museum officials have emphasized that digitization is not meant to supplant the original artifacts on display; rather, it is intended to expand the museum space and safeguard the living memory of Ukraine's contemporary struggle for future generations. The project is slated for completion, with the final results set to be unveiled early in October.