A temple in Hanoi has been re-created using 3D technology, the first major national relic to be part of such a project.
Tuoi Tre reports that Nguyen Tri Quang, a local youth, used Virtual Reality 3D (VR3D) technology to reconstruct the temple in Tien Le Village, Tien Yen Commune, Hoai Duc District.
The digital model allows people to interact with the temple by using their mouse to turn the structure and zoom in or out on specific areas. Quang's research team experimented for over two years, while the model took another four months to build.
The 3D technology allowed the team to copy the smallest details, such as cracks in floor tiles or wood panels. As this process is eventually applied to more historical sites, it will help aid convservation efforts by detecting poor restoration work. The easy web accessibility of such models also allows people to visit important sites without even leaving their desk.
Explore Tien Le's temple in three dimensions here.
[Photo via Kienviet]