Cultural Resources Team Develops 3D Laser Scanning Capability

June 30, 2016

Seminar participants conduct a laser scan on the east façade of the historic CEMML building on the CSU campus
Seminar participants conduct a laser scan on the east façade of the historic CEMML building on the CSU campus (l to r: Kellie Nicholson, Amanda Wallander, Forencia Pezzutti, and Tania Metcalf).

This week (June 27-28), CEMML’s Cultural Resources (CR) team sponsored a training seminar on 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry of cultural heritage sites, buildings, and features presented by Mr. Scott Lee, Director of Operations at CyArk. Founded in 2003, Cyark works to ensure that heritage sites are available to future generations, while also making them uniquely accessible today. CyArk operates internationally as a 501(c)3 non-profit with the mission of using new technologies to create a free, 3D online library of the world’s cultural heritage sites before they are lost to natural disasters, destroyed by human aggression, or ravaged by the passage of time.

CEMML anticipates applying this technology in its documentation of historic buildings, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, and Traditional Cultural Properties in its work on US military lands.

The two-day seminar involved hands-on training with terrestrial laser scanning using a FARO Focus 330 scanning instrument (see photo below) and panoramic photogrammetry using Canon DSLR cameras. A variety of post-processing and image enhancement software programs were also explored for 3D reconstruction.

Unpacking the FARO Focus 330 terrestrial laser scanner with associated spherical targets.
Unpacking the FARO Focus 330 terrestrial laser scanner with associated spherical targets.

Participants included most of the CEMML CR team, which included Dr. Jim Zeidler, Amanda Wallander, Tania Metcalf, Alexandra Wallace, Florencia Pezzutti, and Dominic Henry, along with invited guests from other CSU departments. Dr. Brad Goetz participated from Horticultural and Landscape Architecture, and Dr. Sarah Payne and Kellie Nicholas from the Public Lands History Center.

 

Seminar participants
Seminar participants (l to r): Alexandra Wallace, Dominic Henry, Scott Lee, Dr. Jim Zeidler, and Florencia Pezzutti.

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