| When a culture wishes to preserve its heritage, | | | | purposes, the scanned data from historical |
| its first area of focus is typically the preservation | | | | objects can also be used to manufacture smaller |
| of historical objects and heritage sites that | | | | versions of historical objects for retail, as is |
| provide a tangible link with the past. Until recently, | | | | commonly the case with Michelangelo's David and |
| restoring historical treasures to their original form | | | | the Eiffel Tower. |
| required guesswork. If an outdoor sculpture | | | | Another secondary application of laser-scanning |
| suffered weather damage, the lack of a record | | | | historical treasures is the offering of virtual tours |
| of its spatial data made its restoration imprecise. | | | | of protected historical sites. Ancient ruins and |
| But today, preservationists are using 3D laser | | | | underground heritage sites are often off limits to |
| surveying to gather the precise data of historical | | | | the public, making photographs and virtual tours |
| treasures to aid in their potential restoration. Laser | | | | the only options for public viewing, with the latter |
| surveying-also referred to as laser-scanning-is | | | | being the only option that offers a sense of |
| traditionally associated with the engineering and | | | | visiting a site. For sites that are fit for public |
| manufacturing industries, where it is used to | | | | access but only on a partial basis, laser scanning |
| create new parts and products and troubleshoot | | | | can be used to create walk-throughs with |
| existing products to resolve defects. But the | | | | pre-defined paths that can accommodate higher |
| same data capture abilities that make 3D laser | | | | egress levels while still providing a meaningful view |
| scanning surveying valuable to engineers and | | | | of the site. Prior to the opening of historical |
| manufacturers also makes it valuable to | | | | structures or underground spaces to the public, |
| preservationists. | | | | laser scanning is also valuable for assessing site |
| One example of how laser-scanning is being used | | | | safety in terms of structural stability. |
| in historical preservation can be seen in the recent | | | | Due to the high cost of commercial grade laser |
| scanning of the Mount Rushmore sculpture and | | | | scanning equipment, many preservation |
| the park below. The scanning of the sculpture will | | | | organizations contract with professional laser |
| allow preservationists to restore it to its original | | | | scanning providers. Unlike traditional surveying |
| form if sudden damage or gradual erosion occurs. | | | | methods, laser scanning can produce complete, |
| The same is of true of the terrain and sculptures | | | | accurate results is as little as one surveying |
| in the park. In addition to the Mount Rushmore | | | | session, and the scanning data can be |
| sculpture and park, laser scanning has also been | | | | permanently stored on the customer's computer, |
| used to collect the data of Thomas Jefferson's | | | | both of which make laser scanning the most |
| residence, Monticello, and Michelangelo's David. In | | | | affordable surveying application on today's market. |
| addition to proving valuable for restoration | | | | |