How 3D scanning captured the haunting remains of Los Angeles
After the January 2025 wildfires destroyed thousands of structures, a team from Arizona State University used advanced technology to reconstruct the devastation. This video explores how immersive 3D imagery preserves the stories found within the ruins of 'Nuketown'.
Led by journalist Nonny de la Peña, the ASU Narrative and Emerging Media team used 'Gaussian Splat' technology to transform archive photos and new footage into a three-dimensional 'memory palace'. By using a four-camera rig and artificial intelligence, they created 360-degree images that allow viewers to spatially walk through the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires.
The project, titled 'Out of the Ashes', reveals a striking contrast between destruction and survival. While the fires claimed 31 lives and leveled over 16,000 structures, the scans captured everything from scorched kitchenware to surprisingly untouched objects, such as a car and family heirlooms. The documentary, co-directed with Rory Mitchell, is set to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
Source: What 3D Scanning the Aftermath of the LA Fires Revealed | Nonny de la Peña | TED
