METCO Services, Inc and CyArk to Partner
       in an effort to help in the preservation
       of Historical Sites

"Historical sites are in a continual state of decay. What exists today may not be around for future generations to experience. Using the latest laser-scanning technology, CyArk collects the most accurate 3D models of Cultural Heritage Sites and stores them safely in a publicly accessible archive." (from CyArk's website)

CyArk has engaged METCO Services to scan various sites across the world. The first site, Tudor Place Historical House and Gardens in Washington D.C. has been completed (read about it here).

The second project has just been completed: METCO and CyArk recently traveled to Mexico on a quest to Laser Scan the Chichen Itza ruins. 

In the jungles of Mexico and reaching into the limestone shelf of the Yucatan peninsula, lays the temples and pyramids of the Maya. While Europe was still caught in the Dark Ages, the Mayans had mapped the star-filled sky, evolved the only true writing system native to the Americas, and they were skilled mathematicians.  Mayans invented the calendars that are in use today. Between 600 and 1250 A.D. the ancient city of Chichen Itza, whose name means "at the mouth of the Itza well," was the center of political, economic, religious, and military power.

Chichen Itza contains some of the most well-known ruins of the area.  It is these buildings that are the focus of the current scan project.

METCO used Leica’s HDS 3000 to scan 7 stone buildings, successfully covering the entire archeological site. The entire project took over 3 weeks to complete.

Click on the picture to see a fly-through of the magnificant El Castillo.