Kayseri Digital Atlas Research Group: AI for Cultural Heritage
Department of Architecture, Abdullah Gül University
Principal Investigator: Assist. Prof. Dr. Özlem Kevseroğlu, Faculty of Architecture, AGU ·
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1828-2256
https://avesis.agu.edu.tr/ozlem.kevseroglu
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BKw0fu4AAAAJ
Funding: TÜBİTAK 3501 Career Development Program, Project No. 224K906 (PI: Ö. Kevseroğlu), 01.09.2025-01.09.2027
Project: An Artificial Intelligence-Supported Mobile Application Encompassing the Cultural Landscape Values within the Kayseri Outer Castle for the Preservation of Collective Memory: The Kayseri Digital Atlas
Overview
This interdisciplinary research group develops computational methods, specifically computer vision, generative AI, and mobile/geospatial software, for documenting and reconstructing built cultural heritage. Our case study is the Cumhuriyet Neighbourhood within the outer castle walls of Kayseri, a city with roughly 6,000 years of continuous settlement. We combine archival research and oral-history fieldwork with machine learning to model heritage that has transformed or disappeared.
Research Areas
- Deep learning for heritage image classification (convolutional neural networks, transfer learning)
- Text-to-image generative AI for visual reconstruction of lost or altered heritage from oral-history narratives
- Dataset curation, expert annotation, and evaluation methodology for heritage computer vision
- Mobile application and digital-map development for heritage data
Methods and Computational Work
The project proceeds in three work phases. The first covers data collection and archiving, including archival imagery and recorded oral-history interviews. The second covers AI-supported data generation and visualisation: CNN-based classification of heritage imagery with monument-aware evaluation, and generative reconstruction of tangible and intangible landscape values. The third covers development of the Kayseri Digital Atlas mobile application, which makes these values accessible through interactive digital maps.
Team
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Özlem Kevseroğlu, Principal Investigator (Architecture, AGU)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rifat Kurban, Researcher (Computer Engineering, AGU)
- İrem Yaşar, Ph.D. Student, M.Sc. Architect (AGU)
- Vildan Yıldırım, M.Sc. Student, Architect (AGU)
- Tolgahan Keleş, M.Sc. Student, Computer Engineer (National Defence University)
- Umut Kaya, Computer Engineer (AGU)
- Efe İsmail Kumru, Computer Engineering Undergraduate (AGU)
- Boran Alp Karabulut, Computer Engineering Undergraduate (AGU)
Advisors: Prof. Dr. Burak Asiliskender (Architecture, AGU); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Erdem Tozoğlu (Architecture, ITU)
Publications and Outputs
- Kevseroglu, O., & Kurban, R. (2026). Towards a Digital Atlas for Cultural Landscape: Framework Design and Mobile Application Development for Documenting Tangible and Intangible Heritage. Digital Presentation and Preservation of Cultural and Scientific Heritage, 16, 267-280.
- Kevseroğlu, Ö., Yaşar, İ., & Yıldırım, V. (2026). Reconstructing Lost Urban Memory with Generative AI: An Oral-History Prompt-Engineering Framework. Turkish Journal of Engineering, 10(4), 1667-1676.
- Kevseroğlu, O., & Kurban, R. (2024). Re-exploring the Kayseri Culture Route by Using Deep Learning for Cultural Heritage Image Classification Cultural Heritage Image Classification by Using Deep Learning: Kayseri Culture Route.
- Kevseroğlu, Ö., & Kurban, R. (2024). Comparison of text-to-image generative AI tools for urban portraits: A case study of Invisible Cities by using Stable Diffusion, DALL-E and Midjourney. CITY, REGION AND PLANNING, 49.
- Timur, B. E., Metin, B., & Kevseroğlu, Ö. Exploring the Indirect Effects of a Sustainable Development Goals-Focused Curriculum on Architectural Design Studio. Journal of Design Studio, 7(2), 327-340.
- Kevseroğlu, Ö., & Baran, A. K. AI as a Design Partner: Evaluating Its Role in Architectural Education through Student and Instructor Insights. Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science, 9(3), 1139-1149.
Contact: ozlem.kevseroglu@agu.edu.tr · Department of Architecture, Abdullah Gül University, Sümer Campus, 38080 Kayseri, Türkiye