We 3D Scanned a GHOST TOWN to Preserve it Forever

Corridor Crew
21 Nov 202127:00

TLDRIn this episode, the Corridor Crew joins Brent at Cerro Gordo, a historic silver mine town in California, to embark on a unique preservation project. Using 3D scanning technology, they document the town's buildings, artifacts, and even the mines themselves, creating a digital archive for future generations. The team, including Chris Heinrich from Polycam, explores the town's rich history while capturing detailed scans, and Brent shares his passion for the area. The project not only preserves the town's legacy but also allows fans to virtually explore Cerro Gordo, blending history with cutting-edge technology.

Takeaways

  • 🏰 The video features Cerro Gordo, a ghost town and former silver mine in California, rich in history and currently preserved by Brent.
  • 🎥 Brent has a YouTube channel documenting life in Cerro Gordo, aiming to excite people about the town and its history.
  • 📐 The crew plans to use 3D scanning technology to digitally preserve the town for future generations, allowing virtual exploration.
  • 📸 Chris Heinrich from Polycam is helping with the 3D scans, making the process accessible and easy with their technology.
  • 🏔️ Cerro Gordo has a vast underground network of mines, with 30 miles of tunnels beneath the town.
  • 🔍 The team is interested in capturing the details of the town, including the interiors of buildings and the mines.
  • 🛠️ Brent has found various artifacts in the mines, such as dynamite boxes and tools, which are preserved in a makeshift museum.
  • 📲 The video discusses the use of Polycam's app for 3D scanning, which is user-friendly and works with iPhones and other cameras.
  • 🌐 A webpage is being created to host the 3D scans, allowing anyone to view and interact with the digital models of Cerro Gordo.
  • 🎮 The scans are also being used to create a multiplayer web experience, allowing people to virtually explore the town together.
  • 🔄 The process of 3D scanning is time-intensive but rewarding, as it captures the intricate details of historical sites for posterity.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of Cerro Gordo in California's history?

    -Cerro Gordo was the largest silver mine in California's history during the 1800s.

  • What is Brent's goal regarding Cerro Gordo?

    -Brent's goal is to understand and preserve the history of Cerro Gordo for future generations by rebuilding and stabilizing old cabins, understanding old documents, and more.

  • How does Brent document his life in Cerro Gordo?

    -Brent has a YouTube channel where he documents his experiences living in Cerro Gordo.

  • What technology is being used to digitally preserve Cerro Gordo?

    -3D scanning technology, specifically the Polycam app, is being used to create digital representations of the town and its buildings.

  • What is Chris Heinrich's role in the 3D scanning project?

    -Chris Heinrich from Polycam is ensuring that high-quality scans of Cerro Gordo are obtained.

  • How does the Polycam app work for 3D scanning?

    -Polycam uses photogrammetry to stitch together images captured from various angles into a coherent 3D model. It is easy to use and can be done with a smartphone, particularly those with LiDAR technology.

  • What is the importance of scanning Cerro Gordo in detail?

    -Scanning in detail helps preserve the history and architecture of Cerro Gordo, allowing people who cannot visit the town to explore it digitally and providing a record for future generations.

  • What is the significance of the dynamite boxes found in Cerro Gordo?

    -The dynamite boxes are significant because they represent the mining techniques used in Cerro Gordo, where dynamite was used to blast through rock to extract silver and lead ore.

  • What is the extent of the mines beneath Cerro Gordo?

    -There are 30 miles of mines beneath Cerro Gordo, creating a honeycomb-like network.

  • How is the 3D scanning process being used to preserve artifacts?

    -The 3D scanning process captures the exact details of artifacts, preserving their condition and appearance for future study and virtual exploration.

  • What is the potential for future 3D scanning projects at Cerro Gordo?

    -The potential includes expanding the digital museum, continuing to scan new artifacts, and possibly creating a generational project to capture the entire network of mines beneath the town.

Outlines

00:00

🏴‍☠️ Exploring Cerro Gordo's Ghost Town

The video begins with a tour of Cerro Gordo, a ghost town and former silver mine in California. The host is joined by Brent, a local resident dedicated to preserving the town's history. They discuss the importance of understanding and preserving the town's past. The video's goal is to digitally scan the town in 3D, allowing fans to virtually explore it. Chris Heinrich from Polycam is introduced, and the team's excitement about scanning the town is palpable. The conversation touches on the town's history, the challenges of living in a ghost town, and the potential for 3D scanning to capture its essence.

05:00

📸 3D Scanning with Polycam

The team delves into the process of 3D scanning using Polycam, an app that simplifies the process of photogrammetry. They discuss the app's features, such as the use of iPhone cameras and the Lidar mode for more detailed scans. The host shares tips for beginners, emphasizing the importance of good lighting and capturing images from multiple angles. The video showcases the app's ability to create detailed 3D models in real-time, and the team expresses excitement about the potential for historical preservation through this technology.

10:01

🚜 Scanning the Mines and Union Mine

The video continues with the team's efforts to scan the mines and the Union Mine. They discuss the history of mining in Cerro Gordo, including the use of dynamite and the manual labor involved. The team explores the mine's interior, capturing detailed scans of the shaft and its historical artifacts. The video highlights the challenges of scanning in a mine, such as the need for bright lighting and the complexity of the environment. The team's enthusiasm for preserving the mine's history is evident as they navigate the dark, cavernous spaces.

15:04

🌄 Cataloging and Combining Scans

After days of scanning, the team works on cataloging and combining the data collected. They discuss the process of creating a landing page for the scans, allowing people to explore Cerro Gordo digitally. The video shows the team's efforts to optimize the scans for online viewing and their excitement about the potential for future scans. The host expresses gratitude for the opportunity to preserve the town's history in this innovative way and looks forward to continuing the project.

20:05

🌐 Sharing the 3D Museum with the World

The team has successfully created a digital museum of Cerro Gordo, which they share with the world through a webpage. The scans are viewable in a 3D viewer, and the team demonstrates how users can interact with the scans. They discuss the potential for this technology to preserve historical sites and create immersive experiences. The video ends with the team's excitement about the future of 3D scanning and historical preservation, and they invite viewers to explore the digital museum.

25:07

🎉 Celebrating the Success of the Project

The video concludes with the team celebrating the successful scanning and preservation of Cerro Gordo. They reflect on the journey and express their excitement about the potential for future projects. The host thanks Brent for hosting the episode and acknowledges the contributions of Polycam. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to check out the digital museum and the links provided in the video description.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cerro Gordo

Cerro Gordo is a ghost town in California, historically known for its silver mine, which was the largest in the state during the 1800s. In the video, the town serves as the primary location for the 3D scanning project, aiming to preserve its history digitally. The town's historical significance and current state as a ghost town are central to the video's exploration and preservation efforts.

💡3D Scanning

3D scanning is a process that captures the shape and appearance of physical objects and environments, creating a digital 3D model. In the context of the video, 3D scanning is used to preserve the history of Cerro Gordo by creating detailed digital representations of its buildings, artifacts, and mines. The technology allows for a high level of detail, capturing even the smallest features, and is presented as a novel and effective method for historical preservation.

💡Ghost Town

A ghost town refers to a deserted area where a once-thriving community no longer exists. Cerro Gordo is described as a ghost town, highlighting its abandoned state and the importance of preserving its history. The video emphasizes the unique opportunity to explore and document a place that many people will never have the chance to visit, thus the 3D scanning becomes a way to share this experience with a wider audience.

💡Historical Preservation

Historical preservation involves the process of maintaining and protecting historical sites, artifacts, and documents to ensure their availability for future generations. The video's main theme revolves around using 3D scanning technology to digitally preserve the history of Cerro Gordo, including its buildings, mines, and artifacts. This method allows for a detailed and lasting record of the town's past, which can be accessed and studied by anyone, anywhere.

💡Polycam

Polycam is a 3D scanning app mentioned in the video, which simplifies the process of creating 3D models using a smartphone. It is highlighted for its user-friendly interface and the ability to process scans directly on the phone, making it accessible for the hosts to capture and share the 3D models of Cerro Gordo. The app's features, such as lidar mode and photo mode, are discussed in the context of their utility for the scanning project.

💡Lidar

Lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create high-resolution 3D maps of the environment. In the video, lidar mode in Polycam is used for its accuracy and real-time feedback during the scanning process. Lidar is particularly useful for capturing the intricate details of the town's structures and the challenging environment of the mines.

💡Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a technique used in 3D scanning where multiple photographs of an object or environment are analyzed to create a 3D model. The video discusses the use of photogrammetry in the scanning process, emphasizing how Polycam makes it accessible for beginners. The technique is crucial for capturing the detailed and complex structures of Cerro Gordo, allowing for a comprehensive digital preservation.

💡Drone

A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle used for various purposes, including aerial photography and data collection. In the video, drones are used to capture aerial scans of Cerro Gordo, providing a broader perspective of the town and its surroundings. The use of drones is significant as it allows the hosts to cover a larger area and gather data from vantage points that would be difficult or impossible to reach by other means.

💡Union Mine

The Union Mine is a specific location within Cerro Gordo, which was a significant silver mine in the town's history. The video features a detailed exploration of the mine, including its shaft and the process of scanning its interior. The Union Mine serves as a key example of the historical significance of Cerro Gordo and the potential for digital preservation through 3D scanning.

💡Digital Museum

A digital museum is a virtual space where historical artifacts, documents, and environments are displayed and accessible online. The video concludes with the creation of a digital museum for Cerro Gordo, where the scanned 3D models can be viewed and explored by anyone. This concept is central to the video's message, as it represents a modern and interactive way to preserve and share historical sites with a global audience.

Highlights

The Corridor Crew visits Cerro Gordo, a ghost town and historically significant silver mine in California.

Brent, a resident of Cerro Gordo, aims to preserve the town's history and has a YouTube channel documenting his experiences.

The crew plans to use 3D scanning technology to digitally preserve the town for future generations.

Chris Heinrich from Polycam joins the crew to ensure high-quality 3D scans of the town.

Cerro Gordo has a rich history, having been the largest silver mine in California in the 1800s.

The town has been around for 150 years, and the crew hopes to provide a digital representation for future generations.

The crew discusses the challenges and excitement of scanning the town, including the mines and buildings.

Brent's goal is to scan the exteriors and interiors of the buildings, including the mines.

The crew uses Polycam, an app that simplifies the process of 3D scanning and photogrammetry.

The crew emphasizes the importance of ambient lighting for the quality of the 3D scans.

The 3D scanning process is time-intensive but made relatively quick and easy with Polycam.

The crew successfully scans various artifacts and the town's environment, including a detailed scan of the Union Mine.

The scans are uploaded to a website, creating a digital museum for Cerro Gordo's history and artifacts.

The crew explores the possibility of creating a multiplayer experience for virtual exploration of the town's scans.

The project aims to continue growing, allowing for the preservation and exploration of Cerro Gordo's history in a digital format.

The crew's experience with 3D scanning in mines is unprecedented, offering a new way to preserve and share historical sites.

The use of drones and custom-built lighting rigs allows for detailed and high-quality scans of the town and its mines.

The project showcases the potential of 3D scanning technology for historical preservation and education.

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