An American non-profit called CyArk — which aims to digitally preserve the world’s heritage monuments is currently in the midst of scanning, shooting and studying some of the world’s monuments. Their Notable works include Angor Wat, Mount Rushmore and currently, their team is studying the gateway of India with a view to creating a virtual 3D model.
The field work takes around five days to complete that includes laser scanning, normal and aerial photography,” says Christopher Dang, field director for this project. “Since this particular monument has a huge footfall every day and extremely curious visitors, these five days are full of challenges. The aim is to eventually have a perfectly accurate 3D digital model would help recreate the Gateway if the need ever arose, and meanwhile, will allow the local government to see exactly what’s going on inside and beneath all that basalt rock.
For one thing, the Gateway is facing erosion from the saltwater that periodically beats at it. Since February 19, the team from CyArk has been working from sunrise to sunset to capture images of the monument and signs of the erosion.CyArk began this global project in 2003 and has since amassed digital records for over 200 heritage sites in 40 countries. The virtual blueprint of the Gateway of India will be used by the state archaeology department to compare changes in the exterior of the monument over time to see how salt water infiltration is damaging it. This data can also be used to promote virtual tourism if the government wants to. Elsewhere in India, CyArk has digitally preserved the iconic Rani Ki Vav in Patan, Gujarat. Their next project: the Mysore palace.
