Mt. Rushmore to be digitally mapped in 3-D

At South Dakota's Mount Rushmore National Memorial preservationists will soon use leading edge technology to digitally document the monument to four American presidents in three dimensions.

Through a groundbreaking partnership with CyArk, a US-based non-profit pioneering in digital preservation, and the Culture Minister of the Scottish Government, Mount Rushmore will become the first international World Heritage site outside of Scotland to be rendered in 3D.

Starting in September, project staff will begin laser scanning, modeling and archiving at the monument. The final three-dimensional, digital model will reveal sculpted surfaces with an accuracy of less than one centimeter. This 3D model will be the focus of the comprehensive CyArk website for showcasing to the public the heritage and historic assets contained within the Memorial boundary.