2026 CIPA Heritage Documentation School in Byurakan, Armenia Summary
Written by the Organizers of the 2026 CIPA School in Armenia
Photos by Margarita Skamantzari, Andreas Georgopoulos, and Dimitrios Skarlatos
Participants of the 2026 CIPA Heritage Documentation School in Byurakan.
From 19 to 25 June 2026, the CIPA Heritage Documentation School brought together participants, tutors and heritage professionals in Byurakan, Armenia, for an intensive week dedicated to contemporary methods of cultural heritage documentation.
The School was organized by CIPA Heritage Documentation together with ICOMOS Armenia, with support from the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, ICOMOS, ISPRS, CIPA Emerging Professionals and DiStruct Solutions.
The School attracted considerable international interest, with more than 60 initial registrations. 24 participants from 15 countries ultimately took part in the programme, representing Armenia, the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Türkiye, Switzerland, Brazil, Thailand, France, Serbia, Italy, Peru, Japan and Bulgaria.
The main documentation object selected for the School was the 10th-century St. Hovhannes Church in Byurakan. The monument provided participants with an opportunity to apply contemporary documentation technologies directly to an important example of Armenian medieval architecture. The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, located within walking distance of the church, served as the principal academic venue and provided the necessary facilities for lectures and group work.
Margarita shows participants how to use a Total Station.
The programme began with lectures and demonstrations covering photogrammetry and photographic techniques, geodesy, terrestrial laser scanning, multiband photogrammetry, image-based modelling and digital documentation of cultural heritage. The principal tutors were Andreas Georgopoulos, Dimitrios Skarlatos, José Luis Lerma, Margarita Skamantzari and Nanar Kalantaryan. The programme was further enriched by invited speakers and Armenian specialists.
Working in groups under the guidance of tutors and local instructors, they applied surveying, terrestrial laser scanning and photographic documentation methods. Demonstrations also included UAV photogrammetry, multiband recording and handheld laser scanning.
During the following days, the focus shifted to point-cloud processing, image processing and 3D modelling. Participants worked collaboratively with the datasets collected at the church, receiving continuous guidance from tutors and instructors and preparing their final results and presentations.
On the final working day, the four participant groups presented the results of their work and received their certificates. The academic programme concluded with a cultural evening at the Old Byurakan Guesthouse.
Alongside the academic programme, the School offered numerous opportunities for international networking and cultural exchange. The compact setting of Byurakan, with the church, Observatory and accommodation facilities all within walking distance, helped create an informal and collaborative atmosphere throughout the week.
The CIPA Summer School 2026 in Byurakan demonstrated the value of combining international expertise, hands-on learning and direct engagement with cultural heritage sites. It created new professional connections among participants from around the world while contributing to the documentation, study and promotion of Armenian cultural heritage.
