CyArk, a nonprofit organization dedicated to digitally preserving and sharing the world’s cultural heritage, uses laser scanners to generate highly accurate 3D models of buildings and monuments around the world. It has completed nearly 100 projects, often dealing with significant technical challenges by developing new scanning techniques.

Since 2008, CyArk has had a close relationship with the Scottish government.  This led to the creation of The Scottish Ten, a collaborative project to scan five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Scotland and five international heritage sites chosen by the Scottish government. So far, the team has completed work on three of the international sites: Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, the Rani ki Vav Stepwell in India, and the Eastern Qing Tombs in China. In early April, it began scanning a fourth: the Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

CyArk’s laser scanning measurements help identify and monitor problems with the sites. They can also be used to create models and animations that help visitors understand the sites better and give them virtual access to areas they cannot see.

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