Scanning the Past, Planning the Future

September 18, 2026

4:00 - 6:00 PM

George Pearl Hall

UNM School of Architecture & Planning

Scanning the Past, Shaping the Future explores how emerging technologies are transforming the practice of historic

preservation, cultural heritage, and community storytelling. Building on New Mexico's rich cultural landscapes and the pioneering **Cultural Scans for Interactive 3D Experiences (SITEs)** project, the symposium brings together scholars, preservationists, technologists, designers, and community partners to examine how tools such as LiDAR, photogrammetry, D modeling, augmented and virtual reality, and digital storytelling can expand how we document, interpret, and share the past. Moving beyond traditional tools and methods, the symposium considers how digital technologies can create dynamic, immersive experiences that safeguard cultural heritage, honor diverse histories, engage new audiences, and strengthen connections between communities and the places they call home.

Guest Speakers:

-Bethany Tabor (Public Engagement Specialist Interactive Media)

-Estevan Rael-Galvez (CEO Native Bound Unbound)

-Sarah Berwald (Architect, Historic Preservation Specialist)

-Oliver Horn (Regional Manager for Lincoln Historic Site)

-Fred Gibbs (Professor, UNM Department of History)