3D scanning, modeling, and printing of Chinese classical garden rockeries: Zhanyuan’s South Rockery

Abstract

Chinese classical garden rockeries have rich historical and cultural value, as they are a part of China’s cultural heritage. In recent years, while the digital research of rockeries has increased, most of it is limited to a rockery’s digital record. However, other issues have not been thoroughly discussed, such as how to digitally protect a rockery, activate it as an immovable, solid site heritage by digital means, and transform its function. To ensure the effectiveness of rockery data, this paper compares the advantages and disadvantages of digitally mapping the Huanxiu Shanzhuang rockery, which was conducted by the team at an early stage, to a convenient and accurate digital rockery data acquisition scheme that was used for the Zhanyuan South Rockery, as an example of carrying out three-dimensional digital mapping. Furthermore, from the perspective of the sustainable development of cultural heritage, this study attempts to print Chinese classical garden rockeries in three dimensions to realize their physical representation. This paper aims to provide a new way to activate, restore, and protect rockeries.