This paper reports on the outcomes from a feasibility study exploring
the potential for using a high-defi nition 3D scanner to improve the effi ciency of
architectural recording and design in existing environments. The study used examples
from the existing built heritage (in this case, historic local doocots) to explore how
the technology and associated software can be used to gather information about the
surface and appearance of structures, and how this can then be utilised to rapidly
develop both a record of the existing situation, while providing a permanent and
accurate (to 2 mm) 3D model to be used for reference purposes in design and analysis.
Doocots have been selected for a number of key reasons, including the importance of
material and detail to their heritage value, and the fact that they are suffi ciently small
and contained structures to support a full scale recording of manageable size within
this study. It is also true that they each represent historic buildings at risk, and that the
task undertaken here will be of genuine wider value within conservation studies.

• The doocots of Aberdeenshire: An application of 3D scanning technology in the built heritage