We completed the Ark III project and presented it to the public
Published: 24. march 2026
The Karel Komárek Family Foundation has completed, in cooperation with the National Museum of the Czech Republic, the Ark III mobile digitisation station. The only vehicle of its kind in the world will now head to Ukraine, where it will enable detailed 3D recording of endangered heritage sites directly in the field. This is another step in the support the Foundation provides together with its partners. After a year of active operations in Ukraine, the first unit, Ark I, has already delivered tangible results in protecting valuable cultural heritage.
The Ark III project marks a new approach to protecting cultural heritage in wartime. This mobile workstation allows for the digitisation of objects of various sizes directly within institutions as well as in the field – from small artefacts to large‑scale objects. This process creates accurate digital replicas that can be used for documentation, research, and, where needed, the future restoration of damaged monuments.
„It is unacceptable for Ukraine to lose the most valuable elements of its national identity as a result of Russian aggression. Through the Ark project, we have responded to the urgent need to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage while joining forces with institutions that have the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve a shared goal: preserving the historical memory of the Ukrainian nation. The partnership between the private and public sectors has proven to be highly productive in this case. Its outcomes have a lasting character and can serve as a model for similar solutions in turbulent times, when the protection of culture should not become a marginal issue.“
KKFF Director
„The National Museum is helping in Ukraine through concrete actions. From the very first days of the war, we have sought to support our Ukrainian colleagues, who are protecting their cultural heritage with extraordinary courage and dedication under daily threat. The Ark III project is an important step in this support, bringing modern technologies directly to where they are most needed. We greatly appreciate the support of the Karel Komárek Family Foundation, thanks to which this project could be realised. In the coming days, I will personally hand over this project in Kyiv, as an expression of respect and solidarity with those who are safeguarding cultural values that go beyond the borders of a single country.”“
Director General of the National Museum of the Czech Republic.
Mobile Laboratory and Data Sharing
The mobile digitisation unit is built on a Volkswagen Crafter chassis and equipped with state‑of‑the‑art 3D scanners and photogrammetric systems. The technology was developed by experts from the National Museum of the Czech Republic specifically for the digitisation of collection objects under crisis conditions.
The collected data are stored in a secure cloud environment and made accessible through specialised interfaces. This allows experts to study the objects in detail, compare them, and use the data further in scientific research and museum practice. The project also includes training for Ukrainian specialists who will operate the technology in the field.
The Ark III unit will be deployed across Ukraine, particularly in war‑affected areas. The vehicle will be handed over to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which has been entrusted by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine with coordinating the protection of cultural heritage. The project thus contributes not only to the immediate protection of monuments, but also to their future restoration.
Ark I: The First Step in Systematic Support
The Karel Komárek Family Foundation contributed to the Ark for Ukraine project earlier by supporting the creation of Ark I, a mobile conservation unit designed to protect rare written materials, books, and archival documents directly in the field.
Since its deployment, Ark I has made it possible to carry out urgent interventions and repairs without having to transport materials to specialised laboratories. It has delivered tangible results in the form of thousands of treated documents, stabilised pages, and trained professionals from Ukrainian memory institutions. We previously summarised the first year results in the article One Year of Ark I Operations: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Numbers.
We believe Ark III will build on the success of Ark I and broaden the support for safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage. At a time when monuments and the country’s historical memory are under threat, such support plays a key role in protecting them from harmful influences, which do not necessarily stem only from armed conflict.
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