Preserving Culture Through 3D Laser Scanning
Making it easier to collect, preserve, and share
As a society, we focus on preserving our history and documenting other cultures to share them and learn. Without studying our history, we are doomed to make the same mistakes. We’ve created replicas to study and preserve what we can, and that has involved numerous hours and has always been a tedious job. Now, a tool helps us collect accurate information and documents and entire space, objects, or people. 3D laser scanning has created an easier way for us to collect, preserve, and share.
The School of Arts Languages and Cultures has created a new project to scan cultural places at the University of Manchester. The goal is to preserve the information and original look but also share the scans with others. The goal is to provide the public with the options to view these scans and tour some of these amazing sites.
“The 3D scans will support University teaching and learning, and provide case studies for further research and development on virtual and augmented reality with the creative industries and relevant businesses.” Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology.
On top of being one of the best learning tools, 3D laser scanning provides a way for people to “leave the home” without actually leaving. During a time where COVID-19 is ravaging communities, it is important to stay home to lower the rate of deaths. However, it is natural to get bored. The students sharing their work through these scans can help give people some entertainment to look forward to and a way to study cultures from around the world.
How does 3D laser scanning work
This device is one of the coolest tools we have ever created though it wasn’t always as precise as it is now. It takes rapid pictures of an object or scene while also projecting small lasers at the same item. The light beams are being measured by the distance they traveled, and this also helps collect accurate information.
Most devices come as smaller handheld devices that give directions on how to move and which angle still needs to be scanned. They were not always this easy to use, but many advancements have come out in the past few years, making it easy to use the tool.
Why is this good for students
During a student’s time at college, it is important for them to understand how the latest technologies work. It is relevant in our everyday lives now and can help collect information that would otherwise be unseen. It provides a way to create references for the future, share information amongst each other, and understand key concepts. All of these features of 3D laser scanning make it incredibly useful for students.
Final thoughts
The more sites that are scanned, the more the world will get to enjoy tours from home, and the more we can preserve these historical sites. We can protect the buildings being scanned and even renovate them if necessary by not hosting physical tours. 3D laser scanning is changing the way students think and understand by analyzing deeper than ever before.