Digitally Scanning the Lukang Longshan Temple

In March 2016, China University of Technology, the Taiwanese Bureau of Cultural Heritage and CyArk, a not-for-profit digital archive organization partnered on an innovative cultural preservation project. The project set out to do 3D recordings of Taiwan’s Lukang Longshan Temple.

CyArk used state of the art technology to fully capture every detail of the temple and its surroundings. This included the four main buildings and the connecting courtyards of the complex.

The mission was to document cultural sites and empower locals to use this data to preserve their landmarks. While in Lukang, CyArk trained students from the Center for Cultural Sites Rehabilitation and Development program at CUTe in how to collect images through laser scans.

Local experts learned many other new techniques, like structured light scanning. This is more suited to capture the details of sensitive artwork such as the murals within the temple. 

This is an example of one of the wooden murals that was scanned using this advanced technology.

Data and images collected from scans are combined with local expertise. Local professionals get a snapshot of the temple’s details to use as a reference during restoration projects.