Step 01
Documentation and Digital Archiving
Every sculpture recorded for the archive begins with careful documentation. Before scanning begins, the monument is observed and basic information is collected. This may include the location, the name of the sculpture, the artist if known, and any visible historical details connected to the monument.
Accurate documentation helps ensure that the digital record is meaningful and useful in the future. A sculpture is not only an object but also part of a wider historical and cultural story.
Once the basic information is gathered, the sculpture is captured using 3D scanning technology. The scanner records the exact geometry and surface detail of the monument, producing a highly accurate digital model.
After the scan is completed the data is processed and cleaned to create a usable three dimensional mesh. This model becomes part of a growing digital archive that documents public sculpture across the United Kingdom.
By combining documentation with precise digital capture, the project creates lasting records of monuments that can support research, education, and long term cultural preservation.
Step 02
Field Scanning and Data Capture
Once documentation is complete the sculpture is captured using professional 3D scanning equipment. The scanner records thousands of measurements every second while moving around the monument. This allows the full shape and fine surface detail of the sculpture to be recorded accurately.
Scanning is usually carried out slowly and methodically to maintain stable tracking and consistent data capture. Lighting conditions, surface texture, and the surrounding environment all influence how the scan is performed.
The goal during this stage is to collect complete coverage of the monument so that every visible surface is captured. When done correctly the result is a highly detailed digital representation of the sculpture.
Step 03
Processing and Archiving
After scanning the captured data is processed to produce a clean digital model. Individual scan frames are aligned and merged together to form a complete three dimensional mesh of the sculpture.
During processing any small gaps or noise in the data are corrected to improve the quality of the model while maintaining the original structure of the monument.
Once the model is complete it is archived along with important information such as the sculpture’s location, date of capture, and historical notes when available. These records become part of the growing digital archive that documents public sculpture across the United Kingdom.
Step 04
Public Access and Digital Preservation
Once a sculpture has been processed and archived the digital record becomes part of the growing public documentation project. Each entry includes the three dimensional capture along with key information such as location, monument details, and historical context when available.
Making these records accessible allows researchers, educators, and the wider public to explore public sculpture in new ways. Digital preservation ensures that even if the original monument changes over time, an accurate record of its structure and appearance will remain.
By continuing to document monuments across towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom, the archive aims to build a lasting record of public sculpture that can support heritage awareness and cultural research for many years to come.