http://www.discoveryprogramme.ie/news-a-events/news/167-new-3d-project-to-digitise-iconic-monuments-of-ireland-and-europe.html

Researchers for the Discovery Programme document and provide virtual access to Irish World Heritage sites

Written by Anthony Corns

Untitled-2 3D-ICONS is a 3 year EU co-funded project which will focus on the 3D documentation of UNESCO World Heritage monuments and other monuments of outstanding value at European level. The digital content will include 3D models and reconstructions, enlarged models of important details, images, texts, videos. It will also include and re-contextualize in 3D, objects belonging to a monument but presently located elsewhere, for example in a museum. The project's activities will include both new digitization as well as the conversion of some existing 3D data into formats which are accessible for users. The project's anticipated impact is making accessible through the Europeana website an unprecedented quantity of high-quality, 3D models; presenting well-organized and attractive information about the masterpieces of European architecture and archaeology.

Within Ireland the 3D-ICONS project activities are being carried out by the Discovery Programme: a public institution for advanced research in Irish archaeology, funded by the Heritage Council. Over the following three years discovery programme staff will capture and model in 3D a range of iconic Irish monument and artefacts to millimetre accuracy using an assortment of technologies including: laser scanning and photogrammetry. Once created 3D models can be used for a range of heritage activities, including: mobasterboice_2

Visualisation & virtual reconstruction
Tourism & promotion
Conservation & management

Cultural heritage assets are unique and irreplaceable in their tangible form of historic buildings, sites and artefacts; as well as in their intangible value, which includes history, collective memory and identity. It is paramount that all efforts should be made to preserve cultural heritage in all its forms, ensuring its security for future generations and to maximise the potential economic benefits for tourism and the creative industries.

Some of the sites to be documented include:

Skellig Micheal
Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site including Knowth & Newgramge
Hill of Tara
Dún Aonghasa stone fort, Aran Islands
Clonmacnoise
Glendalough
Derry City Walls

Connor Newman, Chairman of the Heritage Council, was excited and enthused by the project

It is paramount that all efforts should be made to preserve cultural heritage in all its forms, ensuring its security for future generations and to maximise the potential economic benefits for tourism and the creative industries.

By the Heritage Council providing financial support for institutions such as the Discovery Programme, additional European and international funding can be leveraged to extend this investment allowing Irish institutions to collaborative within European projects and enabling the promotion and communication of Irish heritage to a wider audience.

Professor Terry Barry, Associate Professor of Medieval History at Trinity College Dublin and the Chairman of the Discovery Programme stated.

The funding of a European project such as this to the Discovery Programme indicates the level of technical expertise which exists within Ireland in relation to archaeological and heritage research.

***UPDATE***

The project was officially launched by Conor Newman, Chairman of the Heritage Council on 18th April 2012 at the Royal Irish Academy Dublin. Fittingly the launch followed a joint Heritage Council / ICOMOS Ireland conference to celebrate International Day of Monuments and Sites.