Laser scanning at Russborough

by Rebecca O’Reilly BSc, HDip, PgD

The investigation of Russborough House, an esteemed Irish Neo-Palladian building, was part of my research paper on Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) for the Applied Building Repair and Conservation (P.Grad.Dip.) at Trinity College Dublin during the academic year 2022/23. Under the guidance of Pauline Swords, Head of Collections and Conservation at Russborough, I focused on scanning three specific areas—the Entrance Hall, Saloon, and Main Staircase. Existing survey data of the building is notably scarce, so my goal was to address a critical issue: the absence of digital or 3D records for the house.

I conducted interviews with Dr Maurice Murphy and Dr Conor Dore, known for pioneering HBIM concepts at the Technological University of Dublin, and whose expertise was instrumental in shaping the application of HBIM for Russborough House. Michael Reilly, Chief Technical Officer at the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Biomedical Engineering at Trinity, outlined the prerequisites for constructing a 3D model or print for historical conservation. He explained the fundamental principles of 3D modelling and emphasized the crucial file formats needed.

Laser scanning offers highly precise recordings of a building’s environments, structures, and components. Meanwhile, 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, involves creating solid objects from digital 3D computer models layer by layer using specialised machines and materials. In the 19th century, archaeologists used plaster casts to preserve vulnerable ancient sculptures in situ. Comparing 3D scans of original sculptures to historical casts resulted in replicas that were then matched with the original casts, enriching the real-world record. Although the concept of documenting architectural features isn’t new, the methods have significantly evolved. Much like 19th-century archaeologists, using techniques such as laser scanning can conserve crucial feature information.

Moreover, advancements in 3D printing enable the creation of highly accurate moulds from laser scan data, offering a solution in the event of damage. The advantage of digital data lies in its easy storage and accessibility, reducing the immediate necessity for its use or storage.

I am continuing to develop the methods of 3D printing and creating moulds with my colleagues at The Discovery Programme, where we are looking at its technical and practical applications. https://discoveryprogramme.ie/