3D scanning has just recently really become useful in museums. We are seeing more and more of these institutions begin to scan ancient artifacts, in order to digitally preserve them. The Smithsonian Museum has done this, as has the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and several others.
Late yesterday, another museum made an announcement which takes the technology of 3D scanning a step further. The UCL Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, which is home to one of the top collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world, has launched an online library of 3D objects. This library includes many of the ancient artifacts that are available in the museum. They are viewable in full 3D, directly from the website.
“The aim of our 3D imaging programme is to allow visitors to see artefacts in ways not possible in traditional museum displays. The 3D image library gives online visitors the type of access only curators have – the public can now virtually handle objects and closely examine the smallest details of their composition.” says Tonya Nelson, Head of Museums and Collections.
The technology used to create the 3D renditions of these artifacts is quite advanced. Not only was 3D scanning used, but 3D imaging as well, which allows the renderings to appear just as they would in real life. They may be fully rotated, 360 degrees in all directions, as well as zoomed into and out of view.
We can expect to see this become commonplace among other museums around the world, since the UCL Petrie Museum plans to share this technology with them. One day, perhaps every artifact in every museum on this planet will be digitally viewable in 3D on the internet. Discuss this incredible new website in the “UCL Petrie Museum” thread on 3DPB.com