New Life for Old Caves

Using 3D laser scanners from Leica to measure millions of points inside the caves, and point-cloud software from Pointools to create photorealistic 3D models, the project team has produced a number of high-definition movies which have already been viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube  to simultaneously raise the profile of Nottingham’s hidden heritage and 3D laser scanning at large.
 
According to Dr Walker the project team can survey a small cave system with just six or seven scans to measure around 50 million points. Whereas Peel Street, the largest cave measured thus far, involved 99 scans and generated more than a billion points. Walker continued, “Using Pointools software to convert, process, and reuse the point cloud model, we can move from raw scan data to finished website with high-definition movies in about four working days.”
 
Trent and Peak Archaeology and the University of Nottingham () join a long line of teams that have used Pointools software for heritage work.