By Saratoga TODAY

July 23, 2015 | view source

WILTON – This week, 3D scans were taken to make exact three dimensional measurements of Grant Cottage. Grant Cottage is currently applying for historic landmark status with the National Parks Department and the measurements taken will be a part of the application.

Dr. Michael “Bodhi” Rogers Ph.D., a professor of physics at Ithaca College, was accompanied by Scott Stull Ph.D. from SUNY Cortland and several students as he scanned the cottage with a Leical C-10 3D laser scanner. They recently scanned Lincoln Cottage in Washington, D.C. using the same technology.

This scanner works by sending out a pulsing laser that can take up to 50,000 readings per second. However, technology is moving fast. Though the 3D scanner used at Grant Cottage is only three years old, there are already new scanners out that can take up to a million readings every second.

The 3D scanning process involves three steps. First, a context scan is taken in low resolution that can scan 360 degrees around and 270 degrees in an arc above the scanner. Then, photos are taken to ensure the scan is finished as close to the real color of Grant Cottage as possible. Lastly, a high resolution scan is done that takes measurements of the building every five millimeters. This process is done eight times and each time the scanner is moved to a new location around the cottage.

President of Grant Cottage, Tim Welch, has hopes that this scanning will benefit Grant Cottage in many ways.

“Technically if Grant Cottage ever burned down, we would have measurements for an exact replica to be made,” Welch says. “I’m also hoping to turn the 3D scans into a virtual tour we may have on our website.”

Furthermore, 3D scans would be useful in making any necessary repairs to the cottage. They could also be used to make a physical model for historical preservation.

This Saturday, July 25 marks the 130th anniversary of Ulysses S. Grant’s passing. To commemorate this event, there will be music and re-enactors that will recreate Grant’s family circle on the porch of Grant Cottage to share stories and memories of his life.

Grant Cottage will also be showing clips of D.W Griffith’s film “A Birth of a Nation” on July 31, beginning at dusk. This film was selected to spark a discussion about the racial violence in the film, violence Grant fought against during his lifetime.

For more information please visit GrantCottage.org or call 518-584-4353.