How 3D Laser Scanning Helped Save Earthquake Damaged Buildings in Napa

3D Virtual Technology to the Rescue

"Within a few days of the [August 24, 2014 South Napa] earthquake the founder of a local 3D imaging company, Shari Kamimori, offered her company’s services to help save the city’s threatened heritage. While the immediate post-disaster recovery and the work from the field team played a vital role in saving damaged structures, the use of 3D laser scanning offered the best hope for capturing buildings that were at risk for demolition. The scanning also served as a valuable preservation tool for buildings proposed for deconstruction, which is the careful dismantling and storing of a building for a later use. The 3D scan provided a safe and quick solution for potential restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation by capturing thousands of points a second and creates a virtual photograph of the object that it scans. This superhero technology quickly became the designer tool in Napa after earthquake during a time of when some were reacting quickly with the call for demolition."