I am part of a research group that is exploring on-site 3D capturing and its possibilities in educational, archival, and artistic production. Our ongoing project began with a US Army-sanctioned visit to an extensive network of caves in Braye-en-Laonnois in Northern France in the summer of 2019. The caves were used extensively during World War I by French and American soldiers as shelter from combat on the Western Front. While killing time in their improvised residence, the soldiers carved their names and other artwork into the soft limestone walls and their etchings have remained locked away from the public and protected by volunteers.
To document the caves and etchings before they disappear, we captured high-resolution, 360° panoramic imagery using photogrammetry and a LIDAR scanner.
Click here to view a beta sample of a zoomable, VR-ready, “walkthrough” environment assembled by team member Keith Heyward with assistance from Wheaton students Myles Trevino and Jake Loberti.