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Scanning for the American-Mongolian
"Deer Stone Project" (DSP)

The DSP was launched in 2001, conducting research activities side-by-side with
Mongolian scientists in the province of Hovsgol Aimag in Northern Mongolia. In
2005, MCI conservators expanded the research scope to include the documen-tation of carved stone monoliths dating back to the 1st to 2nd millennium BC and earlier by the use of the 3D scanning technique.

 

After a successful first trip in 2006 using a Breuckmann 3D scanner for this task, in 2007 it was again a Breuckmann system to hold a key role for the success of an on-site digitisation project of the monoliths in Mongolia.

 

Customer and Project Definition

In the summer of 2007, the Smithsonian Institution carried out an expedition to Mongolia to collect 3D scan data of stone monoliths from the Bronze Age, the so called Deer Stones, in an effort to promote the understanding and preservation these significant historical monuments.  

 

 

They have to date not been well recorded and are at continued risk of disintegration by environmental and human cause. The technique of 3D imaging is of valuable significance as it allows to generate precise and high-resolution metrological information, thus exactly reflecting the 3D surface geometry of each object. Moreover, the image can be captured without touching the original. In conjunction with other kinds of documentation, these digital records serve as valuable material for base-line archival records as well as for research and educational purposes.

  

Challenges and Operating Conditions

  • expedition for more than 2.000 km on dirty, dusty and rough terrain
  • ever changing weather conditions (sand and thunder storms) and
  • extreme temperature differences
  • safe transport of the sensitive technical equipment under the aforementioned conditions
  • changing lighting conditions
 

Result

Over a three-week period, complete high-resolution 3D records of fifteen 3.000-year-old Deer Stones measuring from 0.5 meter to 3 meter in height were produced under day and night time conditions. To cope with the adventurous transport of more than 1.200 miles over mostly extremely rough terrain and demanding measuring conditions, the robust Breuckmann optoTOP-HE system was chosen to be best suited for the task.

 

All expedition members were equally impressed by the reliability of the system. With a laptop, electric power generator and a simple tripod, the system has proven to be well suited for measurements even under most challenging circumstances. Also extreme temperature variations between 32° F at night and 122° F during the day as well as the fine dust, blown by the wind through the Mongolian steppe, did not affect the accuracy and quality of the 3D scans.

 

Conclusion

The 3D acquisition of Deer Stones has proven to become increasingly important as weather influences slowly disintegrate the stones, and broken pieces disappear in the luggage of tourists.

 

By digitising these significant monuments, the Deer Stone Project made a valuable contribution to permanently preserve many of the Deer Stones. The 3D data of the Deer Stones give scientists the opportunity to study and document the engravings or small structures in the stones, and also to compare stones of different locations. In addition, the 3D data can be used to produce replicas of the Deer Stones, as it has already been the case with two stones for the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington D.C.

 

 

 

 

Pictures

Deer Stone
Expedition vehicle
Reduction of ambient light
One of the "Deer Stones"
Digitisation by night