VIRTUAL London Heritages Conference

Abstract

The late 20th century witnessed a transformation in heritage documentation with the emergence of 3D scanning and digital photogrammetry. From the 1980s to the early 2000s, these technologies evolved from industrial and military applications into indispensable tools for heritage conservation, fundamentally reshaping methods of recording, analysing, and disseminating historical sites and artefacts. This paper traces the early adoption and development of 3D digitisation within the heritage sector, highlighting key milestones in this transition such as the pioneering efforts of the National Research Council of Canada, the Digital Michelangelo Project, and the commercialisation of laser scanning technologies by firms like Cyra Technologies. These early initiatives not only addressed the growing demand for non-invasive documentation techniques but also laid the groundwork for contemporary digital heritage practices, driven by interdisciplinary collaborations that fostered innovation and reshaped digitisation in heritage preservation. By situating these advancements within their historical context, this study explores the intersection of technological innovation with evolving conservation methodologies, institutional priorities, and interdisciplinary partnerships at the turn of the millennium. Against the backdrop of contemporary challenges heritage sites face—including those confronting Maritime Greenwich—this paper reflects on how early digitisation efforts helped redefine concepts of authenticity, preservation, and accessibility. Ultimately, it demonstrates how the historical trajectory of 3D scanning and photogrammetry has shaped present-day approaches to heritage documentation, offering critical insights into the evolving role of digital technologies in safeguarding cultural heritage and memory.