Autodesk has demonstrated ReCap family of software and services to create intelligent 3D data from captured photos and laser scans at the INC Conference.

ReCap makes it easy to clean, organise and visualise massive datasets captured from reality.  Amar Hanspal, senior vice- president, Autodesk, says, “The future is a design challenge and Autodesk is known for technology that helps build the future. Today, our reality capture tools can also help protect the past.”

Autodesk showcased several examples of what is achievable with ReCap – from a 3D capture of a small Krishna statue to a 3D capture of the enormous hammam at one of the oldest Mughal gardens in India (the 16th century complex Aam Khas Bagh aka Bagh-i-Rakhna at Sirhind in Punjab).

Hanspal adds, “Autodesk is in discussions with UNESCO to make a broader technology gift to support heritage conservation. We are particularly interested in helping India, which has one of the world’s richest collections of World Heritage sites, such as the Ajanta Caves, the monuments at Sanchi, Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Himalayan Railways. Also, there are hundreds more that could benefit from increased conservation, from basic documentation to the creation of 3D digital models that enable analysis and interpretation.”

Key projects supported by Autodesk are:

Smithsonian X 3D: Autodesk is supporting this project, which shows how 3D technologies will transform the work of the Smithsonian Institution and museum and research institutions worldwide. For the first time ever, state-of-the-art 3D scanning and image-based modeling technology paired with new Smithsonian technology will enable museum collections, scientific specimens, and entire research sites to be digitally recorded, studied, and shared in immersive detail.

Paleontologist Louise Leakey: The Leakey family’s work has been critical to establishing human evolutionary development in Africa. Louise used Autodesk 123D Catch software in Kenya to capture rare, million-year old hominid skulls in a textured 3D model to share with the world.

Bamiyan Buddhas: After the Taliban bombed the Bamiyan Buddhas, there was no known record of the Buddhas. Autodesk piloted a project to create a digital record. This included crowd-sourcing tourists’ publicly posted online photos. Autodesk used photogrammetry techniques to create an accurate 3D digital model for the world to enjoy.