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Abington firm to do laser scan of Lincoln Memorial

DJS Associates Inc., a 25-employee Abington firm that laser-scans accident scenes and building collapses for insurers and plaintiffs' lawyers, is stepping up its game.

Robert Olson, a Korean War veteran from Iowa, third from left, is pushed in his wheelchair by Zach Twedt, also from Iowa, fourth from left around the National World War II Memorial, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 in Washington. Veterans who had traveled from across the country were allowed to visit the National World War II Memorial after it had been officially closed because of the partial government shutdown. After their visit, the National World War II Memorial was closed again. The Lincoln Memorial is seen in the distance. Congress plunged the nation into a partial government shutdown Tuesday as a long-running dispute over President Barack Obama's health care law stalled a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job and suspending most non-essential federal programs and services. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Robert Olson, a Korean War veteran from Iowa, third from left, is pushed in his wheelchair by Zach Twedt, also from Iowa, fourth from left around the National World War II Memorial, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 in Washington. Veterans who had traveled from across the country were allowed to visit the National World War II Memorial after it had been officially closed because of the partial government shutdown. After their visit, the National World War II Memorial was closed again. The Lincoln Memorial is seen in the distance. Congress plunged the nation into a partial government shutdown Tuesday as a long-running dispute over President Barack Obama's health care law stalled a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job and suspending most non-essential federal programs and services. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Read moreASSOCIATED PRESS
    by By Bob Fernandez, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

DJS Associates Inc., a 25-employee Abington firm that laser-scans accident scenes and building collapses for insurers and plaintiffs' lawyers, is stepping up its game.

A four-person DJS crew will begin Monday the giant task of laser-scanning the Lincoln Memorial.

The eventual three-dimensional digital image - the merging of 400 individual scans - will be accurate to within a quarter-inch of the physical monument in Washington, the firm says.

The pro bono project is being done in conjunction with the National Park Service and the nonprofit organization CyArk, based in Oakland, Calif.

CyArk has 83 digital images of "world heritage sites" on its website for viewing, spokeswoman Devon Haynes said Friday.

The Lincoln Memorial digital image is expected to be used for education - take this 3-D tour of the Lincoln Memorial! - and posterity.

If the monument were to be damaged, it could be repaired or replaced to its original dimensions utilizing the scan.

DJS president Steven M. Schorr estimated that the firm is donating about $100,000 to the project with the scanning and crew.

Monday's weather forecast includes rain. Jon Adams, DJS's director of architectural and heritage services, prefers sunshine. "Laser pulses will measure everything they come in contact with, even raindrops," said Adams.

If it's raining, Adams said, the laser-scanning crew will begin with the interior.

The typical DJS project uses about 10 scans, Adams said. The 400 scans will be the firm's most complex project. "It's all the same principles," he said. "This is just multiplied by a lot."