Preserving Welsh Industrial Heritage at Vivian Quarry

This project started after I saw a BBC Wales News segment about ScubaScape acquiring Vivian Quarry in Llanberis, North Wales. The report featured old slate quarry machinery that had recently been uncovered. I reached out to ScubaScape to propose using 3D scanning to digitally preserve both the machinery and the quarry site. ScubaScape invited me to the site, where I carried out 3D scans of the above-ground machinery and surrounding quarry area and also featured in their podcast Link to be posted here when released. The scanning I undertook included the old winch system and the landscape features such as the quarry cliffs and scar. The purpose was to capture and preserve these elements digitally, supporting both cultural heritage and educational use. We seek to involve an engineering student, supporting the scanning process and helping to process the data. This hands-on involvement provides valuable experience in applying spatial technologies in real environments. I also plan to involve a Creative Media or IT student to explore innovative ways of using the resulting 3D scans. This could include turning the models into physical replicas through 3D printing or developing an augmented reality (AR) experience. The direction is still to be decided, but the goal is to apply the scans in creative and educational ways. The next stage involves scanning submerged structures, including an old blast room at the bottom of the quarry. This part of the project will be developed in collaboration with Bangor University, who can provide sonar scanning equipment. I also plan to trial Gaussian splatting underwater using a GoPro and dive lights to assess its effectiveness for capturing 3D data below the surface. Below is a video of the above ground 3D Scanning Results: