Industry Observation:
Ancient jade, as a treasure of Chinese civilization, its preservation and inheritance have always been a focal point for the cultural relics community. In recent years, with the rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and three-dimensional (3D) scanning technology are injecting new vitality into the preservation of ancient jade relics in unprecedented ways. This not only improves preservation efficiency but also broadens the public's access to understanding and researching ancient jade.
Technological Innovation Drives Preservation Upgrade
For a long time, the fragility, complexity, and rarity of ancient jade have posed significant challenges to its preservation. Traditional preservation methods are often time-consuming, labor-intensive, and have certain limitations. However, the latest technological applications are changing this situation. According to the '2023 Annual Report on China's Cultural Relics Technology Protection' released by the China Association for Cultural Heritage Conservation Technology, as of the end of 2023, over 300 cultural and museum institutions nationwide have begun to explore or apply 3D scanning and AI recognition technologies in cultural relic preservation, with the proportion involving jade artifacts reaching as high as 45%.
Taking the Palace Museum as an example, in its 'Digital Forbidden City' project in collaboration with Tsinghua University, high-precision 3D data collection has been successfully carried out for nearly 2,000 important ancient jade artifacts in its collection. These data can not only accurately record the form, ornamentation, and color variations of the jade, providing a scientific basis for restoration work, but also allow the public to appreciate and study ancient jade comprehensively and from multiple angles through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies without physical contact. Professor Zhang Ming, a cultural relic restoration expert at the Palace Museum, stated: '3D modeling allows us to perform unprecedented analysis of the micro-structure of ancient jade, which is crucial for determining its manufacturing process and extent of damage.'
AI Recognition and Preventive Preservation
The application of AI technology in ancient jade preservation focuses more on disease monitoring and preventive preservation. For instance, the Zhejiang Provincial Museum and Hangzhou Dianzi University jointly developed a deep learning-based intelligent recognition system for ancient jade diseases. By learning from a large amount of historical jade disease image data, this system can automatically identify tiny lesions such as cracks, weathering, and corrosion on the surface of ancient jade, with an accuracy rate of up to 92.5%. Once a potential risk is detected, the system immediately issues an early warning, reminding staff to take timely intervention measures, thereby nipping diseases in the bud. According to Dr. Li Hua, the project leader, since the system was put into use in 2022, it has successfully warned and handled more than 20 potential risks that could lead to further damage to ancient jade.
Furthermore, AI plays an important role in dating, tracing, and authenticating ancient jade. By analyzing big data on the material, craftsmanship characteristics, and decorative styles of jade artifacts, AI models can assist experts in making more precise judgments, effectively combatting ancient jade counterfeiting and maintaining market order. Wang Qiang, Vice President of the China Jade Culture Research Association, pointed out: 'The intervention of AI has significantly moved the authentication of ancient jade from empiricism towards scientific quantification, greatly enhancing the objectivity and credibility of appraisals.'
Challenges and Prospects
Despite the significant achievements of technology empowering ancient jade preservation, some challenges remain. Firstly, there is the issue of popularizing high-precision equipment and professional talent, as many local cultural and museum institutions still lack corresponding technical and financial support. Secondly, data security and standardization are crucial issues that need to be addressed, such as ensuring the secure storage and effective sharing of massive ancient jade data. Finally, technological application is not a panacea and still needs to be combined with traditional restoration techniques to achieve the best preservation results.
Looking ahead, with the development of new-generation information technologies such as 5G and cloud computing, the application of AI and 3D technology in the field of ancient jade relic preservation will become deeper and more extensive. We have reason to believe that with the support of technology, these ancient jade treasures, carrying thousands of years of civilization, will be able to shine brighter and longer, telling the glorious history of the Chinese nation to the world.