Southeast Asian Illuminated Manuscripts: A Study of the Maritime Silk Road Using Scientific Imaging and AI

该项目将研究如何将机器学习或人工智能与非侵入性成像技术结合使用，以确定东南亚海上手稿的多种特征。人工智能分析方法将被设计和开发，以便找到详细的信息来回答许多基本问题。为了获取辅助这项任务的数据，将使用x射线荧光、光谱成像和OCT等成像方法，以便使用人工智能自动化执行多模态分析。我的相关经验包括一个MSci研究项目，涉及对大英图书馆的两份东南亚伊斯兰手稿进行深入的光谱分析。这些有争议的手稿包含了说明其书写起源在东南亚地区的colophons，然而，手稿的笔迹、照明和其他方面表明，它们是在俄罗斯达吉斯坦写的。我对看似相同的彩色区域进行了光谱比较，然而，记录的光谱却并非如此，这表明色素是后来添加的。在进行分析以得出这些结论时，我开发了自己的程序来自动校准和提取重要数据，从而可以更快地分析大面积。我以前学习英语达到AS水平，并对历史文学有浓厚的兴趣。我最近还参加了一次去瑞士圣加尔修道院图书馆的实地考察，在那里我对具有重要历史和宗教意义的几个世纪的手稿进行了多光谱、紫外荧光和近红外再成像。实地工作使我习惯了这些手稿的重要性，并提供了大量的成像设备和方法的实践经验。在此期间，我还使用自动化技术对两份手稿进行了初步分析，以发现隐藏的文字和图画。

This project would investigate how machine learning or AI can be used in conjunction with noninvasiveimaging techniques to determine multiple characteristics of maritime Southeast Asianmanuscripts. AI analytical methods would be designed and developed so that detailed information canbe found to answer many fundamental questions. To acquire the data aiding this task, imagingmethods such as X-ray fluorescence, Spectral Imaging, and OCT would be used so that multimodalanalysis could be performed using AI automation. My relevant experience includes an MSci ResearchProject involving in-depth spectral analysis of two Southeast Asian Islamic Manuscripts belonging tothe British Library. The manuscripts in question contained colophons stating their origins of writing inlocations within Southeast Asia, however the hand of the script, illumination and other aspects of themanuscripts suggested they instead had been written in Dagestan, Russia. I performed spectralcomparisons between coloured regions that were seemingly the same, however, the spectra recordedwere not, suggesting that the colophon had been added later. When doing the analysis to come tothese conclusions I developed my own programmes to calibrate and extract important dataautomatically, allowing for quicker analysis of large areas. I have previously studied English to AS leveland have a keen interest in historical literature. I also recently partook in a field trip to the Abbey Libraryof St. Gall in Switzerland where I performed Multi-Spectral, Ultraviolet Fluorescence, and Near Infra-redimaging on centuries old manuscripts of great historical and religious importance. The fieldworkallowed me to become accustomed to the importance of such manuscripts and provided largeamounts of hands on experience with imaging equipment and methods. During this I also performedpreliminary analysis of two manuscripts using automated techniques to uncover hidden writing anddrawings.