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April 13th, 2013 
RESEARCHERS are using breakthrough Australian technology to map the nation’s cultural heritage sites in 3D.
The CSIRO developed the laser system, called Zebedee, which allows researchers to map areas by simply walking through them.
It uses a scanner that swings back and forth on a spring to capture millions of detailed measurements.
CSIRO’s Dr Jonathan Roberts says instead of taking research teams months to map a site, it can now be done in a few hours.
The CSIRO is working with The University of Queensland to map historic sites in Moreton Bay, including the 19th century Brisbane River defences at Fort Lytton and Peel Island’s leper colony buildings.
Professor John Macarthur from the university said so far they’d been able to analyse the architecture used to racially segregate people within the leper colony
The 3D maps show that indigenous people lived in cramped and crowded living quarters but non-indigenous people had their own huts with scenic verandahs.
“Zebedee has allowed us to capture a detailed record of several key cultural heritage sites, ranging from those which are fragile and at risk of damage through natural disasters to those which are remote and difficult to get to,” he said.
The technology was officially launched by Environment Minister Andrew Powell on Saturday for the start of Australian Heritage week.
Mr Powell said Zebedee would preserve some of the most significant heritage sites for future generations.
“This hi-tech laser mapping system means we can interpret and understand our past better than ever before,” he said.
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