# Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies

> Research facility of the University of Bamberg

**Wikidata**: [Q120892340](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120892340)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/centre-for-heritage-conservation-studies-and-technologies

## Summary
The Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT) is a research institute operating under the University of Bamberg in Germany. Established in 2016, it serves as a competence center dedicated to the intersection of heritage conservation, digital humanities, and building technologies. The facility focuses on integrating scientific methods, such as 3D scanning and dendrochronology, with traditional historical and architectural research.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (German: *Kompetenzzentrum für Denkmalwissenschaften und Denkmaltechnologien*).
- **Acronym:** KDWT.
- **Entity Type:** Research institute.
- **Parent Organization:** University of Bamberg (founded 1647).
- **Location:** Bamberg, Germany (University headquarters: Kapuzinerstraße 16).
- **Inception:** 2016.
- **Leadership:** Rainer Drewello served as spokesperson from its inception in March 2016 until 2018; Stefan Breitling has served as spokesperson since 2018.
- **Website:** https://www.uni-bamberg.de/kdwt/
- **Visual Identity:** The organization updated its logo in 2024.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the KDWT?
A: The KDWT functions as a research institute dedicated to heritage conservation studies and technologies. It aims to advance the field through interdisciplinary research combining humanities and science.

### Q: When was the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies established?
A: The centre was established in 2016. Its initial spokesperson, Rainer Drewello, was appointed on March 24, 2016.

### Q: How is the KDWT related to the University of Bamberg?
A: The KDWT is a distinct research facility and part of the University of Bamberg, a Bavarian university founded in 1647.

## Why It Matters
The Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies plays a critical role in modernizing the field of heritage preservation. By bridging the gap between historical sciences and cutting-edge technology, the KDWT enables more precise analysis and documentation of cultural artifacts and architecture. Its work in fields like digital humanities and 3D scanning allows for the creation of permanent digital records, aiding in the preservation of history that might otherwise be lost to time or decay. Furthermore, its focus on "buildings archaeology" and dendrochronology provides scientific dating methods essential for accurate historical interpretation. As part of the University of Bamberg, it also serves as an academic hub, training the next generation of conservation scientists.

## Notable For
- **Interdisciplinary Integration:** Uniting diverse fields such as art history, digital humanities, and dendrochronology under one research roof.
- **Technological Application:** Utilizing advanced non-invasive technologies like 3D scanning for the documentation and analysis of historical buildings.
- **Academic Leadership:** Acting as a central competence center for the University of Bamberg's heritage-related research initiatives.
- **Scientific Dating:** Specializing in dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to provide precise dating for wooden structures and artifacts in architectural history.

## Body
### Organizational History
The Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT) was founded in 2016 as a research facility of the University of Bamberg. It operates under the official German title *Kompetenzzentrum für Denkmalwissenschaften und Denkmaltechnologien*.

Upon its formation in March 2016, Rainer Drewello was appointed as the spokesperson for the center, a position he held until 2018. Leadership subsequently transitioned to Stefan Breitling, who assumed the role of spokesperson in 2018. The organization updated its visual branding in 2024, adopting a new logo to represent its ongoing research activities.

### Research and Fields of Work
The institute is classified as a research institute with a broad scope of work centered on the preservation and study of cultural heritage. Key areas of research include:
*   **Digital Humanities:** Applying digital tools to traditional humanities questions.
*   **3D Scanning:** Creating high-fidelity digital models of heritage sites.
*   **Buildings Archaeology:** The scientific investigation and documentation of historical structures.
*   **Dendrochronology:** The analysis of tree-ring growth to date timber in historical contexts.
*   **Preservation Survey:** Assessing the condition and needs of heritage assets.
*   **Art and Architectural History:** Studying the aesthetic and historical context of monuments.

### Institutional Context
The KDWT is an integral part of the University of Bamberg, an institution with a history dating back to 1647. The university is located in Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany. The KDWT contributes to the university's profile by providing a specialized focus on the technologies and sciences required to maintain and understand the UNESCO World Heritage site in which the university is situated.

## References

1. [Neues Kompetenzzentrum für Denkmalwissenschaften und Denkmaltechnologien (KDWT). 2016](https://www.uni-bamberg.de/kdwt/news/artikel/neues-kompetenzzentrum-fuer-denkmalwissenschaften-und-denkmaltechnologien-kdwt-2/)
2. [Digital Technologies in Heritage Conservation - Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT)](https://www.uni-bamberg.de/en/iadk/heritage-conservation-studies/centre-for-heritage-conservation-studies-and-technologies-kdwt/divisions/digital-technologies-in-heritage-conservation/)
3. FactGrid