Background
The National Authority of Preah Vihear (NAPV) administers conservation, documentation and site management for the Preah Vihear temple complex and its associated heritage assets. On 8 July 2026 NAPV held a half‑year review session to present first‑half 2026 results and to set operational directions for the remainder of 2026.
The authority applied photogrammetry and 3D scanning as part of an immediate post‑conflict documentation effort and recorded 34,156 displaced stone fragments from impacted temple structures. Senior leadership used the session to review departmental plans, encourage continued implementation of conservation work and to address gaps identified during the H1 reportbacks.
Key Developments
About 100 officials and staff from the authority’s seven directorates attended the review session chaired by the Director General. Presentations included a deputy director’s report on emergency restoration interventions at heavily damaged areas, followed by a detailed question‑and‑answer period aimed at improving daily operational workflows. The documentation exercise counted 34,156 stone fragments in total, of which 12,062 were recorded as showing edge pieces and 22,094 without edges; field teams registered impacts at 20 of 22 surveyed locations.
Institutional Role
NAPV’s role in conservation combines field emergency response, technical documentation and coordination of departmental restoration plans. Technical teams carried out on‑site interventions to stabilise damaged fabric and created a digital archive through high‑resolution imaging and 3D scanning to support future conservation decisions.
Operational Implications
The H1 review emphasised sustained documentation and repository management to underpin reconstruction and material‑matching efforts. Leadership counselled staff to maintain high levels of responsibility in routine tasks and to follow through on the directorates’ planned activities for the second half of 2026.
