Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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The Polytechnic Institute of Civil Engineering held the grand opening of the international educational project "Digital Modeling of Cultural Heritage Sites in Russia and Cuba." Representatives of the Committee for State Control, Use, and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of St. Petersburg, the Union of Restorers of St. Petersburg, the Technological University of Havana (CUJAE), and the National Council for Cultural Heritage of Cuba participated in the event. The project will run for one academic semester, until December 15, 2025.
The project is a follow-up to agreements reached between the universities during the St. Petersburg Days in Havana and Santiago de Cuba in 2024. The project is being implemented with the support of the Union of Restorers of St. Petersburg, the Committee for State Control, Use, and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of St. Petersburg, and the National Council for Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Cuba.
The Russian side was represented at the event by Alexey Mikhailov, Chairman and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for State Control, Use, and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of St. Petersburg, and Ekaterina Kozyreva; Alexandra Komissarova, Deputy Director General of the Union of Restorers of St. Petersburg; Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art; Mikhail Romanov, Responsible for International Activities of the Institute of Contemporary Art; Ksenia Strelets, Director of the Center for Additional Professional Programs at the Institute of Contemporary Art; Yegor Melekhin and Anna Korotkova, curators of the Russian student team and ISI faculty; Ekaterina Belyaevskaya, Head of the Department of International Interuniversity Cooperation at SPbPU; Taisiya Kletskina, Specialist of the Department of International Interuniversity Cooperation at SPbPU; and Leoandris Martinez Serrano, PhD student at the Graduate School of Cyber-Physical Systems Management.
The friendship between Russia and Cuba is not only a long history of mutual support and respect, but also an example of fruitful cooperation in science, technology, and culture. Today's project is further proof of how innovative approaches and modern technologies help strengthen our ties and preserve our priceless cultural heritage for future generations. By combining our efforts in technology and innovation, we are building bridges between our peoples, strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation," noted Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Civil Engineering Institute.
The main goal of the project is to develop long-term educational, scientific, and technical cooperation between SPbPU and CUJAE. Particular attention is paid to developing students' professional competencies in project management and the application of building information modeling (BIM) technologies for the digitalization, preservation, and restoration of cultural heritage sites.
During the project, students from Russia and Cuba are expected to collaborate in parallel, studying the principles of digital tools used in architectural research and developing design solutions aimed at preserving cultural heritage sites. This is essential and fundamental knowledge for modern restoration architects, and by honing it, specialists will achieve a high level of professionalism and mastery. I wish the project participants success in mastering new tools and achieving excellence in the use of familiar technologies, as well as maintaining a focus on developing the management systems that will be essential for the continued existence of the monument, noted Alexandra Komissarova, Deputy General Director of the Union of Restorers of St. Petersburg.
During the project, students will complete a comprehensive educational program: training seminars and courses on the history of Russian and Cuban architecture, digital modeling of architectural structures, the study of construction regulations and standards, and the use of specialized software and equipment. Participants will master a full range of skills, from archival data analysis and laser scanning to information modeling and the use of augmented and virtual reality technologies.
Each student team will work with cultural heritage sites from their own country. Russian students from the Civil Engineering Institute will explore the Kholomki estate of Prince Andrei Grigorievich Gagarin and the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Belskoye Ustye. Cuban students will focus on studying the headquarters of the Physics Faculty and the headquarters of the Mathematics and Computer Science Faculty of the University of Havana.
The Republic of Cuba was represented by the Ministry of Culture Nilsson Acosta Reyes, Director of the International Relations Office of CUJAE Luis Alberto Rueda Guzmán, Vice President of the National Council for Cultural Heritage of Cuba and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of CUJAE Ruslan Muñoz Hernández, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of CUJAE Ingrid Fernández Lorquenzo, General Director of RESTAURA Enterprise Tatiana Fernández de los Santos, Director of Technical and Production Works of RESTAURA Enterprise Lojania Cruz Hernández, Vice Dean for Research, Postgraduate Programs and International Relations of the Faculty of Architecture of CUJAE, Coordinator of the Cuban Team Karen Sanabria Ortega, External Director of GeoCuba Business Group Sergio E. Ricardo Desdin, Project Coordinator, Representative of GEODESA José Carlos Núñez, Head of the Applied Mathematics and Geomatics Department Emilio Escartín Sauleda, Vice Dean for the Master's Program at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dania Olga Abruy Hernandez, lecturer and consultants in ground surveying and 3D modeling Carlos Guerra Astorga and David Ernesto Chico Rodriguez.
Nilson Acosta Reyes, Vice President of the National Council for Cultural Heritage at the Cuban Ministry of Culture, noted: "The implementation of this technology for regulating and monitoring the condition of cultural sites, particularly historic buildings, will significantly improve the accuracy of collected data, streamline inspection and management decision-making processes, and develop effective measures to protect monuments from the effects of natural disasters, emergencies, and armed conflicts."
Also during the meeting, project curator Yegor Melekhin, assistant professor at the Higher School of Industrial, Civil, and Road Construction, presented a detailed presentation of the project, outlining the scope of the work, the implementation timeline, and the key objectives of the participants.
Luis Alberto Rueda Guzmán, Director of CUJAE's International Relations Office, emphasized: "Our collaboration, which began last November, already includes two promising areas: research in mechanics and renewable energy, as well as the preparation of scientific publications. The participation of Cuban students from CUJAE at the SPbPU Winter University is particularly valuable; it represents a new step in the collaboration between our universities."
Upon completion, each team will submit a set of materials, including a digital information model of the site, a project presentation, and an informational booklet describing the key elements and objects of protection. The project's implementation will significantly contribute to the development of international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage preservation using modern digital technologies.
Our partnership with the Technological University of Havana is more than just academic collaboration; it's a strategic alliance where Russian engineering traditions meet the innovative approaches of our Cuban colleagues. Together, we are creating new standards for international cooperation in the digital preservation of cultural heritage. This project clearly demonstrates how higher education is becoming a driver not only of technological progress but also of strengthening intercultural dialogue," noted Dmitry Arsenyev, SPbPU Vice-Rector for International Affairs.
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