At its core, 3D scanning works by gathering a set of measurements taken by laser from an object in the real world.  In the case shown at right, a laser beam is broadcast from the scanner via a movable mirror.  The laser light strikes the object, and the returning light is analyzed, yielding a  precise numerical distance from the scanner to the point on the object.  By taking thousands (or millions) of points during the course of a scan, the overall 3D topography for the object takes form in the digital space of the computer.

Once this "cloud of points" is generated by the scanner, a synthetic camera viewpoint can be created in Cartesian coordinate space, along with simulated lighting and surface details (textures).  To create a complete model, multiple scans are taken from different viewpoints.
 

When the resulting scan and 3D model are done, they function as a lasting record of a site, a "3D snapshot" that can be used by future researchers.  This is especially true for rapidly disintegrating sites, where 3D scans may well be the only way to record important sites before they are lost forever.

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