MUMBAI: The Gateway of India remains one of India's most precious monuments , one that is vulnerable to natural and manmade risks. Two private firms are now documenting "every square cm" of the site using a technique called "digital preservation". The 3D model they will compile can guide future conservation plans and help rebuild the Gateway, in a worst case scenario.It can also prove helpful to future generations of students, tourists and heritage enthusiasts to experience the site virtually anytime, anywhere.Two days of work remain to complete the task that is being undertaken by Seagate Technology, a global data storage solutions firm, in association with a US-based non-profit organisation named CyArk."For two weeks our team has been using drone cameras, terrestrial photography and laser scanning technology to capture images of the monument from all directions. We have virtually covered every square cm using a 100 mega pixel camera. The laser beam scans 350m in all directions. Once we collect the data, we will fashion a 3D model that along with the 2D drawings will be shared with the directorate of archaeology and museums in Mumbai which oversees the upkeep of the Gateway," said Christopher Dang, field director, CyArk.The two firms Seagate and CyArk have been partnering for the past few years. They have carried out projects in Vietnam and Thailand, and it was then they reached out to the Indian authorities for the Gateway. All necessary permissions were sought from the directorate and the police.Tejas Garge, director of the department of archaeology and museums, said, "The team sought our leave to carry out digital preservation and we permitted them to do so. They will share the data with us which will come in use when we draft a future conservation plan. We do have general information like the elevation plan of the Gateway, but preparing a 3D model is an expensive exercise. Our department receives funds from the government, but these are limited to conservation."Garge recalled the extensive restoration of the Gateway of India that was undertaken in 2008-9. "However, the monument is witnessing renewed flaking of stone and is turning black owing to salinity. We recently held a meeting with municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta where the directorate proposed a site management plan involving all stakeholders including Mumbai Port Trust, BMC and archaeology. The role of each custodian should be specified," he said.The private companies will secure the data gathered in their hard drive back home. However, given the security threat that exists to the Gateway and the nearby Taj Mahal Hotel, they will have to devise a way to handle and protect the document here in India with the authorities.

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