Digital Twin Technology Preserves Alcatraz Island
Pete Kelsey's digital twin project creates the most comprehensive 3D map of Alcatraz using drones, LiDAR, and reality capture tech.
A groundbreaking digital preservation project has created the most comprehensive 3D map of Alcatraz Island, combining cutting-edge drone technology, artificial intelligence, and reality capture systems to document one of America’s most notorious historical sites.
Pete Kelsey, founder of VCTO Labs, presented the project at Intergeo 2025 in Frankfurt, Germany, detailing how his team completed one of the largest-scale digital twin projects of an American landmark.
The project, completed in December 2023 in partnership with the National Park Service, represents a new frontier in cultural heritage preservation.
Combining cutting-edge drone technology, artificial intelligence, and reality capture systems to document one of America’s most notorious historical sites.
Author's summary: Digital twin tech preserves Alcatraz.