Expedition Overview
In 2018, CyArk traveled to Normandy, France to digitally capture and archive the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. This project was in continuation of CyArk’s prior work in the area preserving sites associated with the Allied-led attack on German-occupied France during World War II, also known as D-Day. Working with the American Battle Monuments Commission, CyArk conducted an aerial survey using techniques in photogrammetry and laser scanning to document important structures. Documentation included indexing and photographing 9,380 headstones, providing site managers with high quality and easily accessible photographs to share with loved ones and family members.
Introducing the Normandy American Cemetery
Overlooking the English Channel, the headstones of thousands of American soldiers who lost their lives in battles along the French coast are a reminder of the area's turbulent history. The US First Army established the cemetery following the D-Day attack on June 8, 1944. It was the first of a total of thirteen World War II cemeteries that the United States would establish on European soil, reflecting the massive loss of life of the deadliest war in history. Seemingly never-ending lines of stark white crosses communicate not only the loss of life, but also the significant personal impact that the war had on fellow surviving soldiers and loved ones back home. Today, the site is a place of remembrance for family members, local residents, and visitors from around the world to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in French waters and soil, turning the tide of the war in favor of Allied forces.
60 Seconds on Site: Normandy American Cemetery by CYArkCyArk
Wall of the Missing
On the east side of the memorial, the Wall of the Missing curves around a semicircular garden. Carved into the stone are 1,557 names of Americans who died in battle and were never recovered. Small rosettes next to some of the names indicate people who have been identified and recovered since the construction of the monument.
Open Heritage 3D by CyArkCyArk
Data from this project is now freely available through Open Heritage 3D.
Download the data from this project.
About Open Heritage 3D
The mission of the Open Heritage 3D project is to:
● Provide open access to 3D cultural heritage datasets for education, research and other
non-commercial uses.
● Minimize the technical, financial and legal barriers for publishers of 3D heritage data.
● Promote discovery and re-use of datasets through standardized metadata and data formats.
● Foster community collaboration and knowledge sharing in the 3D cultural heritage community.
● Share best practices and methodologies for the capture, processing and storage of 3D cultural heritage data
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This project was made possible through partnership with the American Battles Monument Commission
