[3D Contents] Cultural Heritage made of 3D scan

Did you know that cultural heritage can be scanned in 3D?

Let's look at the details.

 

 

Reconstruction of Sungnyemun Gate

source: Naver

Do you know the Sungnyemun Gate incident in February 2008? After 5 years, it has completely regained its former appearance. It is said that there were advanced technologies such as 3D laser scanning.

 

Fortunately, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage had 3D laser scanned data of Sungnyemun in 2002 just in case. At that time, 3D scanning was a method of recording the entire shape in three dimensions by shooting lasers from various directions toward an object and storing the reflected time as data. Immediately after Sungnyemun was burned, a 3D scan was performed to compare the 3D scan data before and after the fire, and it was possible to determine which parts were lost or deformed, thereby restoring to close to 100%. 3D scanning technology is multi-purpose technology that not only restores cultural properties, but also diagnoses high-rise buildings, plants, and tunnel construction, and its importance is gradually increasing.

 

Since then, the Cultural Heritage Administration has realized the importance of 3D laser scanning and has been conducting 3D photography of major cultural properties. To convert about 4,000 objects into ultra-precision digital technology, they have been promoting the "Integrated Database of Cultural Heritage Circular Records". Currently, the "3D Cultural Heritage" service has been established so that it can be easily used by the private sector. Anyone can easily find the 3D heritage service on the National Heritage Portal of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and you can find and use the 3D data after setting 3D search conditions such as 3D type, file extension, 3D classification, and cultural property search conditions such as cultural property name and designed items. There are about 1,000 3D data (printing, modeling, scanning) available through the service, and it is open to anyone for free.

 

In addition, the Cultural Heritage Administration is accelerating the digitalization of cultural properties and is preparing to build a "digital cultural heritage content museum". It is an attempt made possible by increasing awareness of the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of science and technology. Then you might be wondering why they are using 3D scanning, not other technologies. It can be summarized by three reasons.

 

(1) Accurate

Typically, a scanner is a machine that copies pictures or documents, whereas a 3D scanner is a device that can measure the three-dimensional shape and dimensions of an object. This measurement data can also be viewed in a three-dimensional graphic using a detector. The measured features have accurate dimensional information, such as physical objects, rather than simple three-dimensional pictures, so they can be converted into CAD data for product design and development and can be used as data for scrutiny.

 

(2) Convenience

The biggest advantage of an investigation through a scanner is that it can be investigated without physical contact. In addition, it is possible to scan areas that are difficult to check with the eyes, so the degree of damage can be analyzed by figures rather than guessing.

 

(3) Detail

Lastly, it has the advantage of being able to take a closer look at various spaces that cannot be identified with 3D scan cultural heritage while there are some restrictions to access to some places to prevent damage to cultural properties. Because it reproduces real cultural heritage accurately and digitally, it can be freely used as a source content resource for various cultural industries such as webtoons, games, movies, exhibitions, and designs without resistance.

 

Norte Dame Cathedral in France could be reconstructed because it had 3D scanned data like Sungnyemun in Korea. As such, 3D scanning is one of the long-term measures to preserve cultural heritage not only in Korea but also in the international community. It is expected that the 3D scan method will be further actively referenced in various fields.