# A Methodical Approach to 3D Scanning of Heritage Objects Being under Continuous Display
## 6 Conclusions  
Existing methodological approaches to 3D scanning of tangible heritage in most cases assume that the procedure of scanning is performed in places that are closed to tourists, at least for the time of scanning. However, closing an exhibition for tourists, or moving an artifact to be scanned, is not always possible. The authors in this work proposed a methodological approach designed especially for small- and-medium sized objects to overcome difficulties expected in such cases. The procedure has been successfully implemented during the 3D scanning of objects of the Silk Road heritage as well as the wooden sacral architecture of the Maramures region. The authors provided three case studies, presenting different kinds of challenges, such as: an object being movable but of a glossy surface, an object being not movable but of good accessibility, at last an object being not movable and of bad accessibility. For each type of  
Figure 12: 3D base model of the “[PERSON]” statue: overview (on the **left**) and mesh visible (on the right). Figure 13: 3D dissemination model of the “[PERSON]” statue [40]. object, the procedural aspects were discussed, and the way from planning the scanning, through obtaining a 3D base model, to obtaining a 3D dissemination model was shown. According to the authors, the research question posed in this work might be answered in the following way: \"YES, it is possible to acquire, in an effective way, 3D scans using 3D scanners, specifically based on structured light, of historical objects while not removing these objects from their original area of exhibition.\". This assumption is based on long-term experience of the authors in applying the proposed methodological approach, its implementation during the presented case studies and above all due to its results of use. It was revealed that the proposed procedure successfully allowed to counteract organizational problems during 3D scanning of heritage objects being under continuous display, and that the achieved results of scanning were nevertheless of good quality. In the case of the \"[PERSON]\" figure, while applying the method, the goals of digitization were fully achieved. In the case of the \"[PERSON]\" statue, the digitization outcome's deficiencies were not caused by the shortcomings of the method itself, but by limitations of the equipment used. Filling gaps in the dissemination model, and leaving gaps in the base model, might be the temporary solution. The case of the \"Icon of [PERSON]\" is similar, the difference lying in the need of CAD-like reconstruction of the icon's back, due to the inability to move it from the church wall. What is more, based on the authors' experience it could be concluded that:  
1. Digitization using a hand-held structured-light 3D scanner is quite a simple process, that could be performed on heritage sites without the need of providing extensive facilitation for the scanning persons. 2. Digitization using structured-light technology is safe for heritage objects, as there is no need for sticking markers on the object's surface, as well as the objects are not warmed up thanks to the technology being low energy. 3. The 3D scanning technology described in this work, allows to capture photorealistic textures. As a result, the photographic documentation made by a digital camera does not have to be transformed to 3D model textures. The time and effort during postprocessing are saved. 4. High precision of scans allows the creation of high-quality 3D models for the heritage object archaization purposes. Such models might later be used, e.g., for reconstruction purposes, as dimensions of the original object might be read from them. Such models might also be adjusted according to dissemination purposes. Further works concerning 3D digitization of heritage objects being under continuous display will be conducted in compliance with the method presented in this work. This should further verify the method and be the source of valuable insights for the method modifications. Conceptualization, J.K. and K.Z.