The Thammasat Museum of Anthropology has been actively carrying out the 3D scanning of its artifacts. In 2018, the museum initiated a project on applied technology and museology with the collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Thammasat University, led by Dr. Chawee Bussayarat, to apply 3D modeling technology to capture images of the museum’s objects.
Later, in 2023, Professor Dr. Ian Haynes and Mr. Alex Turner, a Research Associate from the School of History, Greek and Roman Classics and Archaeology at Newcastle University, who are experts in applying digital technology, particularly 3D scanning, to the work of archaeology, cultural heritage, and museum, conducted 3D photography for a group of objects from the museum. This project was part of a larger initiative titled, “Digital Heritage: 3D Imaging in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, and Museums.”
Both attempts to capture images of the museum’s objects are for the accessibility of the wider public, in hope to facilitate more in-depth research in the future.
The museum’s 3D photography efforts will help develop its object management system and database, and allow for more detailed recording of each object’s unique features, such as its shape, cracks, or damage. This not only benefits the preservation, repair, and safety of the artifacts but also provides safe and convenient access for students, researchers, and the wider public.