Historical House Preserved with the Latest Technology

3D laser scanners have become one of the most booming industries in the technological world. This technology is now being used to preserve historic homes and monuments. Researchers and historical societies are using 3D laser scanners in downtown Tampa, Florida, to safeguard the Jackson house that once housed African Americans in the time of segregation.

The Jackson house being revamped with technology

This house was a 24-room boarding house, Martin Luther King Jr is known for his civil right movements. As well as James Brown, a singer known for his funky tunes. This house is one of the most famous houses in America but has been shut down to public viewers due to safety reasons.

A team of researchers was tasked with using 3D laser scanners to scan every inch of this house that boarded these famous people. This was in hopes of preserving it and creating a 3D replica of the house. The house itself is giant and has to be done carefully. Inside there are dangerous spots like broken windows and holes in various places. By scanning everything, an architect will be able to 3D print whatever is missing to make it safe for the public. After the 3D model is made, it will hopefully help reopen the house to the public.

Once it is all in a model, whatever the building needs to be preserved can accurately be 3D printed and put into use. Once it is fully restored, the hope is to give tours to anyone interested in learning about the rich history Tampa has to offer.

3D laser scanners have proved to be one of the most useful tools in technology. It preserves many historical sites and creates a database with information that can never be lost. The scanners are so accurate it lowers the risk of having to redo the work being done. They are relatively cheaper than other ways of replicating or renovating a house. It also helps with the safety of all of the team members. Instead of sending someone into a dangerous site, they can attach the technology to a moving device. This allows them to get accurate scans of the inside and outside of a house.

“This data we collected is routinely used by people like architects and engineers that are doing analysis or restoration and preservation kind of work,” says Lori Collins who led the scanning.

The benefits of 3D laser scanners

3D laser scanning is the act of taking several thousand pictures per minute, capturing the smallest amount of detail. Information like the height of an object, width, color, and texture is all recorded. It is then saved in the cloud for future reference. It can then be 3D printed into a physical object that researchers can study or put to use. The information can also be developed into 3D virtual reality, which allows users to walk into any scene.

This technology has been shaping the way we preserve history and is now helping protect historical homes. We are learning to use 3D laser scanners for many different kinds of projects, making it one of the most versatile tools in the world.