From Manuscript to Cloud: Digital Approaches to Preserving Cultural and Religious Inheritance

Abstract

The study analyzes the transformation of methods of preserving cultural and religious heritage in the context of digital development. The aim of the work was to identify the features of digital archiving of monuments and develop recommendations for improving the efficiency of their preservation. The study used a comprehensive approach that included an analysis of international experience, an expert survey of cultural institution employees, and an evaluation of existing digital heritage preservation platforms. Authors analyzed 45 international projects of digitalization of cultural heritage, interviewed 40 experts from 8 countries, and studied 23 innovative preservation technologies. The results showed that digital archiving increases the accessibility of cultural monuments by 73%, ensures the long-term preservation of materials in 89% of cases, and promotes intercultural dialogue. It was found that hybrid preservation models that combine traditional and digital methods were the most effective. The key challenges are identified: technical limitations (43% of respondents), financial difficulties (38%), and the need for professional training (52%). A conceptual model for the sustainable development of the digital ecosystem of cultural heritage preservation has been developed and practical recommendations for cultural institutions have been proposed.