The non-contact 3D laser scanning of cultural artefacts and its applications, at Conservation Technologies, National Museums Liverpool.
Annemarie La Pensée and Martin Cooper, Conservation Technologies, National Museums Liverpool
Non-contact triangulation based 3D Laser scanning was pioneered in the automotive and aeronautical industries in the late 1980s. That the highly accurate 3D data sets laser scanning produces could be a useful tool in the field of cultural heritage emerged a few years later. Around 15 years ago the sculpture conservators at National Museums Liverpool became interested in this technology as a way of documenting objects in 3D. The conservators were particularly interested in documenting sculpture in 3D, examining tool markings, measuring surface changes, removing the need for direct moulding during replication, and solving access issues to vulnerable objects. As a result, for 14 years, the Conservation Technologies department at National Museums Liverpool has been creating highly accurate 3D data sets of cultural artefacts using close-range 3D laser scanning. In that time, we have worked on over 400 cultural artefacts made from a myriad of materials including marble, gold leaf, and varnished, painted wood.
This talk will discuss some of the many applications we now use our 3D data for by examining case studies of our work. We will focus in particular on; the interpretation of a Hittite stone mould from the Garstang Collection, National Museums Liverpool; the 3D scanning of objects with highly reflective surfaces from the Staffordshire Hoard; the non-contact replication of objects for use in museums; and by examining two projects, “Drop Sculpture” by Simon Starling and the creation of ten sculptural planters for Sheffield City Centre by Stephen Broadbent, we will look at the use of 3D data sets and replicas created from them in the production of works of modern art.
Conservation Technologies, National Museums Liverpool
T:+44 (0) 151 478 4915, E:annemarie.lapensee@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
W:http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/conservation/technologies/casestudies/3d/index.aspx
Speaker Biography
Dr Annemarie La Pensée is the senior 3D Laser scanning scientist at Conservation Technologies, National Museums Liverpool. Since joining the laser scanning team, in 2002, Annemarie has worked on numerous local, national and international projects, exploiting 3D recording within the heritage field. She is particularly interested in applying 3D technology in novel ways to solve problems in the fields of conservation, architecture, art and documentation, and to the challenges of public accessibility to heritage objects.
