ETHICAL ASPECTS OF 3D TECHNOLOGIES IN SCULPTURE CONSERVATION

Abstract

Ethical Aspects of 3D Technologies in Sculpture Conservation

This thesis explores the ethical implications of applying 3D technologies in sculpture conservation. While such tools offer new possibilities for documentation, replication, and interpretive display, they also challenge conventional conservation principles, including authenticity, reversibility, and material compatibility. Through the analysis of theoretical literature, and selected case studies, the research identifies key ethical tensions emerging from the use of 3D technologies. The thesis argues that existing frameworks, though valuable, remain incomplete in addressing the long-term risks and conceptual ambiguities of digital-physical interventions. In response, a set of practical guidelines is proposed to support transparent, sustainable, and ethically responsible applications of 3D tools in conservation. Finally, the thesis highlights the need to expand traditional ethics by integrating care-based approaches that emphasise attentiveness, contextual sensitivity, and shared responsibility in digital heritage practice.

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