EDG Consulting Engineers, Inc. announced the recent completion of a high-definition laser survey project for the Galveston Historical Foundation. The survey was conducted on a historic Galveston property utilizing the latest in laser scanning technology and provides an accurate "as-is" record of the landmark for future renovations or preservation efforts.
"Architects and historical preservationists are beginning to recognize the value high-definition survey (HDS) technology offers their fields," said Jonathan White, who joined EDG earlier this year. "The highly accurate, three-dimensional data can be used for any renovation or construction projects or – worst case scenario – to rebuild a destroyed or damaged structure exactly as it was, down to the millimeter."
White stressed that in the post-Katrina era, architects and preservationists are becoming more concerned with establishing electronic archives that document with precision the exact dimensions of historical landmarks, from the inside out. He added that high-definition surveys are not limited by the constraints of conventional surveys, such as the time needed for manual measurement-taking and difficulty in accessing certain areas.
The growing appreciation of what HDS technology can do to preserve our history is not limited to the private sector. Governments worldwide are also getting on the HDS bandwagon, with many of them funding initiatives for the high-tech capture and recording of data for historically relevant structures. According to White, there are thousands of such structures in the United States alone.
"The Galveston Historical Foundation believes that laser scanning will prove to be the best way to document our diverse and sometimes quite complex built environment," said Dwayne Jones, director of the Galveston Historical Foundation. "Historic properties pose special challenges for ordinary architectural documentation techniques. The laser can capture the nuances of design and materials that make our buildings so special. This work will make our preservation work easier and more accurate in the future, and we are excited about the possibilities."
White said that the implications of HDS technology for architects and preservationists extend beyond its value as a surveying resource, especially for educational purposes and virtual touring capabilities. He dedicates a great deal of time to helping historic organizations better understand how to apply HDS within their infrastructures for enhanced results and was recently featured as a guest speaker at a seminar for the Preservation Texas Education Council (PTEC).
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