A STUDY OF USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MAINTAINING HERITAGE AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN MAHARASHTRA REGION

Maharashtra, home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Ajanta-Ellora Caves and iconic forts such as Raigad and Pratapgad, faces escalating threats to its cultural heritage from climate change, urbanization, and structural degradation. Traditional conservation methods struggle with resource constraints and lack predictive capabilities. This research examines artificial intelligence (AI) applications for sustainable preservation of Maharashtra's monuments, focusing on predictive maintenance, digital documentation, and automated damage assessment. Findings reveal AI reduces conservation costs by 35-40% through targeted interventions and extends monument lifespan by preempting structural failures. The research proposes a Maharashtra Heritage AI Framework integrating state ASI directorates with IIT research centers, featuring phased implementation: sensor deployment, ML model training and digital twin platforms.

Challenges including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and Marathi language NLP limitations are addressed through ethical AI governance protocols. this paper demonstrates how AI technologies enable proactive conservation rather than reactive restoration. The research also addresses critical challenges including ethical concerns, data management issues, financial constraints, digital divide, and the need for responsible AI implementation. The findings suggest that while AI offers immense potential for heritage conservation, its successful implementation requires interdisciplinary collaboration, community participation, adequate funding, and robust regulatory frameworks. This paper concludes that AI-driven heritage conservation represents a paradigm shift from preservation to proactive protection, essential for achieving and developing Maharashtras tourist economy by year 2047.