The first laser scanned images of
China’s Eastern Qing Tombs captured by a team of experts from Scotland have
been revealed.
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Point cloud image of main tomb at Jing Ling |
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| Point cloud from Five Arch Bridge at Jing Ling Tomb |
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| Perspective view of point cloud from a stone elephant forming part of the Stone Statues Avenue at the Xiao Ling Tomb |
The historic site has been digitally
captured using cutting-edge technology as part of the Scottish Ten project – a
joint initiative by Historic Scotland, Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design
Studio and international non-profit organisation CyArk.
captured using cutting-edge technology as part of the Scottish Ten project – a
joint initiative by Historic Scotland, Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design
Studio and international non-profit organisation CyArk.
The Eastern Qing Tombs – in use from
1666 to 1911 – are the final resting place of some of China’s best known
emperors. The Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties were both
designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000 – UNESCO describing it as a
“masterpiece of human creative genius”.
1666 to 1911 – are the final resting place of some of China’s best known
emperors. The Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties were both
designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000 – UNESCO describing it as a
“masterpiece of human creative genius”.
The Scottish Ten team focused on the
site’s most elaborate tomb, belonging to Xiao Ling, which was the first to be
completed and exerted a profound influence on those that followed, and also
recorded the Jingling Tomb of Emperor Kangxi, widely regarded as the greatest
emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
site’s most elaborate tomb, belonging to Xiao Ling, which was the first to be
completed and exerted a profound influence on those that followed, and also
recorded the Jingling Tomb of Emperor Kangxi, widely regarded as the greatest
emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
The images have been released just
days after a new strategy to strengthen Scotland’s relationship with China was
published by the Scottish Government.
days after a new strategy to strengthen Scotland’s relationship with China was
published by the Scottish Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and
External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said:
External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said:
“It is fascinating to see these first
images from the laser scanning of the Eastern Qing Tombs. They clearly
demonstrate the intricate workmanship that went into creating this incredible
complex of buildings.
images from the laser scanning of the Eastern Qing Tombs. They clearly
demonstrate the intricate workmanship that went into creating this incredible
complex of buildings.
“The Scottish Ten team has been in
Beijing since the beginning of the month working with our partners from the
Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Cultural Relics
Department at the Eastern Qing Tombs. The scale of the site is an entirely new
challenge for our specialists in conservation and digital heritage preservation
from Historic Scotland, our experts in 3d visualisation from Glasgow School of
Art’s Digital Design Studio and our international partner, CyArk.
Beijing since the beginning of the month working with our partners from the
Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Cultural Relics
Department at the Eastern Qing Tombs. The scale of the site is an entirely new
challenge for our specialists in conservation and digital heritage preservation
from Historic Scotland, our experts in 3d visualisation from Glasgow School of
Art’s Digital Design Studio and our international partner, CyArk.
“The Scottish Ten will create 3D
digital models of our five Scottish World Heritage Sites and five international
sites. On my recent visit to India I was able to hand over the resulting
scanned images, digital survey information and virtual animations from the
team’s work on the Rani ki Vav stepwell in Gujarat that will be used to help
conserve and promote the site.
digital models of our five Scottish World Heritage Sites and five international
sites. On my recent visit to India I was able to hand over the resulting
scanned images, digital survey information and virtual animations from the
team’s work on the Rani ki Vav stepwell in Gujarat that will be used to help
conserve and promote the site.
“As well as the technical data and imagery
that is being produced, the ongoing international partnerships we are building
give us new opportunities to deepen Scotland’s cultural ties with China, one of
the key aims of our new China Strategy. It will also make a real difference to
globally important heritage sites and enhance Scotland’s international
reputation for leading expertise in the fields of conservation and digital
technologies.”
that is being produced, the ongoing international partnerships we are building
give us new opportunities to deepen Scotland’s cultural ties with China, one of
the key aims of our new China Strategy. It will also make a real difference to
globally important heritage sites and enhance Scotland’s international
reputation for leading expertise in the fields of conservation and digital
technologies.”
Mr. Zhang Heqing, Deputy Inspector and
Head of Division of Foreign Affairs of State Administration of Cultural
Heritage, said:
Head of Division of Foreign Affairs of State Administration of Cultural
Heritage, said:
“The digital preservation project of
East Qing Tombs is one of the most important projects between the State
Administration of Cultural Heritage of China and the Scottish government, which
not only promotes the technical exchange and cooperation between China and
Scotland in the preservation of cultural heritage, deepens the friendship
between them, but also arouses the awareness of the public involvement in the
preservation of cultural heritage.
East Qing Tombs is one of the most important projects between the State
Administration of Cultural Heritage of China and the Scottish government, which
not only promotes the technical exchange and cooperation between China and
Scotland in the preservation of cultural heritage, deepens the friendship
between them, but also arouses the awareness of the public involvement in the
preservation of cultural heritage.
“We hope this project could further
strengthen the exchange and cooperation between China and Scotland in the field
of cultural heritage, and showcase the Chinese cultural heritage to the world
in a better way.”
strengthen the exchange and cooperation between China and Scotland in the field
of cultural heritage, and showcase the Chinese cultural heritage to the world
in a better way.”
The Tombs now join the portfolio of Scottish
Ten sites being digitally scanned to create detailed three-dimensional records
for future generations, which can be used to manage the sites, and provide
source material for remote access and educational programmes.
Ten sites being digitally scanned to create detailed three-dimensional records
for future generations, which can be used to manage the sites, and provide
source material for remote access and educational programmes.
In December last year Scottish First
Minister Alex Salmond met with Mr. Gu Yucai, Vice Director-General of China’s
State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and Ms. Lu Qiong, Vice Director of
the Department of the Protection of Monuments and Sites to announce the Eastern
Qing Tombs would be the third international site in the Scottish Ten project.
Minister Alex Salmond met with Mr. Gu Yucai, Vice Director-General of China’s
State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and Ms. Lu Qiong, Vice Director of
the Department of the Protection of Monuments and Sites to announce the Eastern
Qing Tombs would be the third international site in the Scottish Ten project.
The advanced laser technology employed
on the Scottish Ten has already captured sites as varied as St Kilda and
Neolithic Orkney in Scotland, Rani Ki Vav in India and Mount Rushmore in the United
States.
on the Scottish Ten has already captured sites as varied as St Kilda and
Neolithic Orkney in Scotland, Rani Ki Vav in India and Mount Rushmore in the United
States.
After completing four weeks of
scanning the team have returned to Scotland.
scanning the team have returned to Scotland.
–Ends-
A
selection of images are available to download
selection of images are available to download
Caption – Aerial point cloud image of
main tomb at Jing Ling, showing shape of monument and main structures within.
main tomb at Jing Ling, showing shape of monument and main structures within.
Caption – Perspective view of point
cloud from Five Arch Bridge at Jing Ling Tomb.
cloud from Five Arch Bridge at Jing Ling Tomb.
Caption – Point cloud image of main
tomb at Jing Ling
tomb at Jing Ling
Caption – Point cloud image of main
tomb at Jing Ling
tomb at Jing Ling
Caption – Point cloud from Five Arch
Bridge at Jing Ling Tomb.
Bridge at Jing Ling Tomb.
Caption
– Perspective view of point cloud from a stone elephant forming part of the
Stone Statues Avenue at the Xiao Ling Tomb.
– Perspective view of point cloud from a stone elephant forming part of the
Stone Statues Avenue at the Xiao Ling Tomb.
Caption –
Dr Lyn Wilson and Alastair Rawlinson scan a tower at the Jing ling tomb
previously destroyed by fire when struck by lightening.
Dr Lyn Wilson and Alastair Rawlinson scan a tower at the Jing ling tomb
previously destroyed by fire when struck by lightening.
Caption –
James Hepher scanning the main tomb at Jing Ling
James Hepher scanning the main tomb at Jing Ling
Caption –
Dan Shen and Adam Frost scan Xiaoling Ling tomb
Notes to editor
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The scanning
system uses a combination of lasers and 360 degree photography to create a
detailed model which is then analysed and processed at Glasgow School of
Art’s Digital Design Studio and Historic Scotland. The technology can also
reveal construction methods and help decipher inscriptions and creates
records of unparalleled accuracy, and often provides insights not revealed
by more conventional methods of survey.
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Historic
Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with
safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully
accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament.
For more information visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk. Follow us on Twitter @welovehistory
and Facebook www.facebook.com/visithistoricscotland
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The Scottish Government is leading a sustained programme of
engagement with China for the mutual benefit of both nations through its
China Strategy www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/12/7734
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The Glasgow School
of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s foremost
higher education institutions for creative education and research in fine
art, design and architecture. The Digital Design Studio (DDS) is a
world leading research and postgraduate centre of the GSA specialising in
3D digital visualisation and interaction technologies,. It combines academic,
research and commercial activities. The experts at the Digital Design
Studio are currently creating the 3D scans for the widely admired Scottish
Ten as a partner in the CDDV. Other areas of DDS research include
ground-breaking medical visualization, Marine Visualization and Auralisation and sound. www.gsa.ac.uk/research/research-centres/digital–design–studio/
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CyArk is a
non-profit entity whose mission is to digitally preserve cultural heritage
sites through collecting, archiving and providing open access to data
created by laser scanning, digital modelling, and other state-of-the-art
technologies. For more information visit www.archive.cyark.org
- The Centre for
Digital Documentation and Visualisation, a partnership between Historic
Scotland and The Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio, was
created by the Scottish Government to carry out the Scottish Ten project.
This ambitious 5-year project will digitally record the five UNESCO World
Heritage Sites in Scotland and five international sites.
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The Year of Creative Scotland began on
January 1, 2012 and will spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and
creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting
year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events,
festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and
creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism
and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland. More
information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative
-
The Year of
Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership
by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL. More
information and resources to help businesses engage with Year of Creative
Scotland are available at www.visitscotland.org/yearofcreativescotland-toolkit
Contact: Lesley
Brown, Communications and Media Officer
Brown, Communications and Media Officer
Direct
line: 0131 668 8603
line: 0131 668 8603
Mobile: 07920
768096
768096
Email: lesley.brown@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Issued:
December 9, 2012