Tomb of the Unkowns

Laser Scanning the Tomb of the Unknowns

In honor of Memorial Day we thought it fitting to make sure our followers know that the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington, VA was 3D laser scanned for digital preservation.

Here's a link to the story on our website: 3D Scanning the Tomb of the Unknowns

The solid marble Tomb is cracked - severely - and without controversial repairs it will eventually fall apart. This digital documentation is intended to be used to fabricate an exact reproduction for its replacement.

This is not a new project for us but the 3D documentation of the Tomb is part of an on-going debate within the preservation community. While the 3D digital data has been ready to make a new marble Tomb for years, the replacement project has created a discussion about whether to repair or reproduce.