30 
MuseoMag   N°I 2024 
Our first foray into digitising objects involved scanning seven sculptures currently on show at the Nationalmusée um 
Fëschmaart. 
SCANNING SCULPTURES 
Experimenting with 3D digitisation at the museum 
© 
éric 
chenal 
Digitisation, and 3D modelling specifically, have be- 
come increasingly important in the cultural heritage 
sector in recent years. Our cultural institute first 
started experimenting with 3D modelling in 2019, 
when we had both the Nationalmusée um Fësch- 
maart and the Musée Dräi Eechelen scanned. These 
models proved invaluable during lockdown, when 
people could no longer physically go to the museum, 
and offered a different way of accessing and en- 
gaging with culture. This prompted us to start digiti- 
sing our temporary exhibitions as well, making them 
available to the public even after they were over. 
DIGITISING OBJECTS: 
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES 
The next logical step was to start experimenting 
with 3D digitising the objects themselves, which has 
a number of advantages. First, it can help preserve 
fragile objects by creating a copy that can be ar- 
chived long term, allowing them to be studied with- 
out having to handle and possibly further damage 
the original. Such a model can also help restorers re- 
create damaged parts of the physical object now or 
in the future. Second, 3D scanning gives people who