THE Glasgow School of Art is to show the world's top archaeologists and photographers how they can use laser technology to preserve some of our most important architectural sites.
THE Glasgow School of Art is to show the world's top archaeologists and photographers how they can use laser technology to preserve some of our most important architectural sites.
The Digital Documentation Conference, taking place at the Old Fruitmarket today, is the first event of its kind in Europe.
And experts from the university's digital design studio will show how cutting edge laser scanning can be used to survey and interpret heritage structures.
The technology allows archaeologists to create 3D images of buildings lost under layers of soil or damaged after thousands of years, allowing people to see' what sites would have looked like.
Specialists from the US, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey and all over the UK are expected to attend.
Digital visualisation is now big business, and the Glasgow School of Art, supported by Historic Scotland and the Scottish Government, aims to be part of it.
The school's Digital Design Studio already offers 3D digital visualisation courses and is seen as a leader in the field.
Douglas Pritchard, head of visualisation and chairman of today's event, said: "Rarely do you have so many world experts in heritage documentation at one place.
"All the presentations will utilise leading technology that will become the standard in the years to come."
The speakers at the event include Ben Kacyra, of the CyArk Foundation, who created the first archaeological laser scanner and has become known as the John Logie Baird' of digital documentation.
His organisation seeks to digitally capture world heritage sites to create a lasting record of historic sites.
Cyak has carried out lots of studies across New Mexico and the Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, looking at homes built into cliff faces by ancient Indians.
Scotland's Culture Minister Michael Russell was also due to speak at the event.
David Mitchell, director of Historic Scotland's Technical Conservation Group, which has co-organised and sponsored the meeting, said: "This conference gives Scotland the chance to celebrate our success in laser scanning and visualisation in the heritage sector. We are very fortunate to have the world class expertise of Glasgow School of Art.
"It is exciting so many international experts are coming to Scotland for this event and we hope to continue to build our expertise in this area."
To see how laser technology can work, click here
