Case Study: Freiburg Cathedral preserves and digitizes historic gargoyles with Hexagon SmartScan

Freiburg Cathedral - Customer Case Study

The Freiburg Cathedral, a historic German landmark, was facing the irreversible deterioration of its unique stonework due to weathering and pollution. To support preservation efforts and find new ways to fund them, the Cathedral Construction Association worked with Hexagon. They utilized Hexagon's SmartScan 3D scanning system to create a highly detailed digital archive of a specific gargoyle sculpture.

Hexagon's solution involved using the portable SmartScan to capture precise 3D data and true-color textures of the heavy gargoyle. The resulting digital model was used to create scaled replicas for various purposes, including souvenirs and jewelry. The sales proceeds from these items are donated directly to the conservation of the Freiburg Cathedral, providing a new and impactful source of funding for its upkeep.

Freiburg Cathedral