StockGraphy Inc. is pleased to announce that, in partnership with Pauk Kan Wood Carving, we have begun a pilot project to capture and validate 3D digital archives of Bagan’s traditional wood-carving heritage. Together with the workshop’s master artisans and local tourism stakeholders, we will test the technical feasibility of our scanning workflow and explore applications for the region’s tourism industry.
Bagan is one of the world’s great archaeological zones, home to thousands of 11th–13th-century temples and pagodas—and to generations of craftspeople who still practice age-old techniques. Today, wood-carved panels and statues appear not only in temples but also throughout the region’s hotels, restaurants, and shops. Pauk Kan Wood Carving itself operates a showroom – and on the same premises, a restaurant – serving both tourists and local patrons.
In this pilot we will:
Support artisans: Provide on-site 3D scanning and visualization tools to assist master carvers, and evaluate how these tools can aid skills transfer and training.
Test tourism applications: Produce lightweight 3D models and AR experiences that can be delivered via visitors’ smartphones, overcoming the region’s frequent power outages.
Because many parts of Myanmar—including Bagan—experience unstable electricity and regular blackouts, battery-powered devices (such as smartphones or tablets) must serve as the primary delivery platform for any digital-heritage services.
Bagan’s wooden elements—doors, window frames, and decorative panels—have played a vital role alongside stone and lacquerware in its temple architecture. Skilled artisans have, for centuries, handed down finely detailed hand-carving techniques: flowing curves, intricate relief work, and motifs drawn from Buddhist scripture or the region’s natural landscape. Those motifs visually convey the area’s spiritual and cultural values to worshippers and visitors alike.
Pauk Kan Wood Carving is a family-run workshop based in Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region. Using locally sourced hardwoods and time-honored hand tools, their master carvers produce everything from temple panels and religious statuary to gift-item replicas. Each piece is finished with meticulous care, reflecting both the workshop’s century-long heritage and the living traditions of Bagan.
Master carpenter at work in the Pauk Kan workshop
Exterior view of the Pauk Kan worksho
Pauk Kan showroom and restaurant
Fully processed 3D model
Fully processed 3D model
Partial-scan view during 3D data generation
Partial-scan view during 3D data generation
RealityCapture, which was utilized for generating 3D scan models in this case, is a photogrammetry software widely employed in professional fields worldwide. It enables the creation of highly precise 3D models from photo data, laser scan data, or both. Moreover, RealityCapture stands as the fastest solution in the industry currently. Its swift processing enhances operational efficiency, allowing for a focused pursuit of core objectives.
