The doocots of Aberdeenshire: An application of 3D scanning technology in the built heritage

This paper reports on the outcomes from a feasibility study exploring the potential for using a high-definition 3D scanner to improve the efficiency of architectural recording and design in existing environments. The study used examples from the existing built heritage (in this case, historic local doocots) to explore how the technology and associated software can be used to gather information about the surface and appearance of structures, and how this can then be utilised to rapidly develop both a record of the existing situation, while providing a permanent and accurate (to 2 mm) 3D model to be used for reference purposes in design and analysis. Doocots have been selected for a number of key reasons, including the importance of material and detail to their heritage value, and the fact that they are sufficiently small and contained structures to support a full scale recording of manageable size within this study. It is also true that they each represent historic buildings at risk, and that the task undertaken here will be of genuine wider value within conservation studies.