Building on Cathedrals: AI Brings Medieval Architecture to Life

Cardiff University News

An innovative project led by Professor Julia Thomas of the School of English, Communication and Philosophy is transforming how we explore and preserve medieval architectural heritage.

By combining artificial intelligence (AI) with Lambeth Palace Library’s vast collections, Building on Cathedrals, supported by Cardiff University Special Collections and Archives and the University of Wyoming, offers fresh insights into centuries-old designs.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the project uses cutting-edge tools like image recognition, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and caption detection to digitize and explore fragile historical materials. Over 3,000 images of 22 medieval cathedrals have been preserved at high resolution, enhancing accessibility for researchers, architects, and cultural heritage professionals.

Read more at the Cardiff University News.