informing the conservation of the built env ironment - Historic Scotland

The CDDV team split in two: one half working on the
top of the heads, the other working around the base
of the mountain and on the treacherous ‘tallus’ slope,
consisting of dynamite-blown fragments of rock. Using
a combination of scanners, and with a member of CyArk
regularly checking scan data and letting the CDDV
team know of gaps in the point cloud, they worked to
document the entire carving in 3D. For the areas the
team were unable to reach from either above or below,
a specially developed tripod rig was lowered down the
face of the mountain on ropes by members of the NPS
Rope Access Team, with the CDDV scanner safely secured
on one end. Once in place, the team was able to control
the scanner remotely for a safe location. Manoeuvring
the scanner was no easy task, but the results were well
worth the effort. The whole team feels privileged to have
taken part in this project and thankful for the enduring
friendships made there.
To The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
After a short break, the CDDV team headed north to the
Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site in August
2010. There are several sites which make up the WHS,
and the aim was to laser scan all within the two week
fieldwork phase: Maeshowe chambered tomb, Skara
Brae village, the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness,
the Barnhouse Stone and the Watch Stone. Not only was
the team laser scanning the monuments themselves,
but also the detailed Viking inscriptions present within
Maeshowe and the Neolithic carvings at Skara Brae.
The team also carried out a detailed traditional survey,
to tie into the laser data and increase the overall
accuracy of the data collected.
New challenges faced the team on Orkney while carrying
out the fieldwork; of course, the unpredictable Scottish
summer weather was at times an issue, and the clouds
of midges almost got the better of the team at Ring of
Brodgar! There was also the issue of site opening hours:
twilight tours at Maeshowe meant the team working
on the interior scans had to work a few night shifts!
Despite these issues, the project went very well, and
the team was spurred on by the great reception given
by the Orcadian people and by visitors to the sites.
The team also had the opportunity to put to use a few
new pieces of equipment, including a telescopic tripod,
which allowed scans at a height of 4m: this was a great
advantage when documenting the standing stones at
Stenness and Ring of Brodgar.
The laser scan data collected on Orkney will have many
practical uses for the conservation and maintenance
of the sites. It will allow for coastal erosion monitoring
at Skara Brae and condition monitoring of the delicate
carvings and inscriptions. Architectural drawings and
plans will be produced from the laser scans for sites
such as Maeshowe, which will assist our architects
with detailed conservation plans. The data will also
be used to create virtual tours and to explain the
evolution of the structures over time. Virtual reality
access to sites such as House 7 at Skara Brae, which
has not been open to the public for many years,
will now be possible.
Indian Adventure
Also in August 2010, a small team of CDDV
representatives travelled to India to meet with the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and to visit potential
Orkney 3D digital documentation
The Orkney team
8 FOCUS | Historic Scotland 2011