MONITORING AND PRESERVATION OF THE KYIV PECHERSK LAVRA CAVES

Abstract

The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a unique monastery complex included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first mentions of the caves in the chronicles date back to the year 1051. The idea of creating a 3D model of Lavra’s caves was suggested by the Kiev Pechersk Lavra coenobites with the aim to attract public attention to the problem of preserving the Lavra Caves for future generations. It consists of an above-ground part (a complex of religious buildings) and an underground part (caves). The caves form a system of underground corridors subdivided into several parts – the Near Caves, the Far Caves, and the Varangian Caves. Today the caves are in an emergency state and need urgent restoration. Results presented in the paper comprise all steps of the 3D model of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra caves creation. At the first step, a spatial underground geodetic network for scans georeferencing was created. Totally over 60 stations with quite short distances from 2 m up to 15 m, with many open traverses were measured. Terrestrial laser scanning for over than 450 m tunnels and entrance structures has been performed. At the last step, data processing and modelling have been done with a result in the form of plans, cross-sections and TIN model of the whole complex. The paper devoted to features of those works and prospective applications of the results.