In June 2012, the Lascaux cave’s Scientific Advisory Board approved the implementation of a new digital model to supplement the one set up in 2003.
2012–2014: a new digital model of the Lascaux cave
Technological developments since the acquisition campaign undertaken in 2003 have made it possible to considerably increase the resolution of 3D surveys by using a new generation of scanner with sub-millimetre resolution and higher speeds: around 500,000 points per second compared to the 80 points per second of the scanner used in 2003. The resolution of the mesh has been greatly improved and the photographic coverage now provides images of between 25 and 32 million pixels, compared with 6.5 million pixels following the 2003 photographic campaign.
The undertaking of new 3D survey of the Lascaux cave, which was met with broad approval from the Scientific Advisory Board in June 2012, was carried out according to a very strict schedule spread out over more than two years. In addition to re-scanning the works, this new survey will enable us to validate hypotheses that are difficult to put to the test in a real-life environment, and will open up a whole host of possibilities in terms of facilitating engagement with all type of audience (people with disabilities, school pupils, etc.) through a new offering on different media (internet, mobile devices, etc.).
The applications of this new model for development and research
By way of example, it is this new model that has enabled this website to be updated, the replica of the cave to be produced and the multimedia tools presented in the International Centre for Cave Art – "Lascaux IV" to be developed.
This new model is also being used to improve the resolution of the digital simulator, designed in partnership with the University of Bordeaux I to analyse climatological changes inside the cavity.