From ruin to revival: How digital technology is reshaping the restoration of heritage structures

India is a museum of culture, its skyline dotted with soaring gopurams, elegant Islamic domes and majestic Indo-Saracenic buildings. Sadly, many of these monuments face an existential threat from rapid urbanisation, environmental decay and public apathy. When we lose a monument, we don’t just lose a physical structure, but are severed from our cultural moorings. “However, in recent years, technology has come to the aid of conservators, enabling them to make informed decisions,” says architect R. Maniyarasan, who also holds a diploma in photography.