In June 2012 the caves scientific council passed a motion for the creation of a new digital model, completing that which was created in 2003.
2012-2014 A new digitalised model for Lascaux Cave
Since the campaign of 2003, developpements in the technology used to acquire 3D data allow us to take an even higher quality 3D model of the cave. This is thanks to the use of a new generation of 3D scanner with a submillimetre resolution and a rapid acquisition of data about 500 000 points/second as compared 80 points/second of the scanner used in 2003. The mesh resolution has therefore greatly improved and the photo resolution creates images of between 25-32 million pixels, whereas the photo campaign of 2003 yielded images of 6,5 millions pixels.
The creation of a new 3D model of the cave, as approved by the scientific council in June 2012, was carried out according to a very strict timetable over 2 years. Other than just a rereading of the works, this new model allows for studies on the cave which are hard to put in place in the real, and will offer more opportunities for display to varied publics (disabled, school groups...), using new technologies (online, smartphones).
The applications of the new model pour outreach and research
An an example, it's this new model that has allowed for the updating of the current website as well as the creation of the fac-simile and the developpment of multi-media tools in the International Centre for Parietal Art -"Lascaux IV".
This new model will also be used to improve the resolution in the digital simulator, concieved in partnership with Bourdeaux University I, which allows us to study the climatic evolutions at the very interiour of the cavity.