Elizabeth Street Garden 3D
In collaboration with artists @taviuskoktavy and @mehownyc, Elizabeth Street Garden is being digitally conserved through state-of-the-art hyper-realistic 3D scans, making use of the latest advances in 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) and neural radiance fields (NeRFs). This technology marks a significant leap forward in cultural preservation, providing a means to capture intricate details and immersive lighting environments that go beyond what traditional scanning methods have been able to achieve.
Lion
3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) is a novel technique that surpasses traditional polygonal models by relying on point-based representations. It works by distributing thousands, even millions, of tiny points—or "splats"—across a 3D space. These splats represent the surface properties and appearance of objects, offering a high degree of accuracy and detail in a highly efficient computational format. This method allows for the capture of fine-grained textures, subtle curves, and the unique geometry of the garden’s statues, pathways, and plant life. The technique is especially adept at conserving organic and irregular shapes, making it ideal for a dynamic environment like
Elizabeth Street Garden.
Sphinx
Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) complement 3DGS by enabling the accurate modeling of light as it interacts with objects in 3D space. Through machine learning algorithms, NeRFs simulate how light bounces off surfaces, producing lifelike textures and reflections that change based on the viewer’s perspective. This results in not just a static model, but a fully interactive experience, where users can explore the garden as if they were physically present, observing how light shifts across the space during different times of the day or under varying weather conditions. This level of realism is crucial for the garden, as its charm is deeply tied to how light and nature interplay with its sculptures and structures.
Main Lawn
These advanced scanning technologies are not only preserving the visual aspects of the garden but also its emotional and spatial atmosphere. The 3DGS and NeRF-generated models can be accessed globally, offering virtual tours through an immersive online platform. Virtual reality further amplifies this experience, allowing users to "walk" through the garden with a headset, making it possible for people around the world to experience its beauty in stunning detail.
Moreover, the potential of this digital preservation goes beyond virtual spaces. By using the highly accurate 3D models, the sculptures and other artifacts, parts of the garden can be physically recreated through 3D printing. This allows for permanent physical copies of the garden's iconic features, ensuring their preservation even if the
garden itself were to undergo physical changes over time.
This collaborative project not only secures the legacy of Elizabeth Street Garden but also pioneers new methods for the conservation of cultural heritage. Special thanks to @liamdodd, @makocrafts, @luma_ai, and @radiancefields for their critical contributions to this intersection of art, technology, and environmental activism.