What Archeovision does

Archeovision is a French research platform dedicated to applying 3D technologies to cultural heritage, hosted at UMR 6034 Archéosciences Bordeaux on the Pessac campus and structured as a hybrid of public research (CNRS and four universities — Bordeaux, Bordeaux Montaigne, La Rochelle, Pau — plus Bordeaux INP) and private production (ADERA SAS). It operates two divisions: Archeovision Research, which manages 3D research projects, develops scientific methodology for 3D acquisition, and coordinates the 3DHN Consortium of 26+ institutions; and Archeovision Production (created 2005), which delivers 3D digitization, reconstruction, and heritage valorization services to paying institutions.

The platform's core technology stack combines terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry, lasergrammetry, airborne Lidar, and topographic surveys to produce point clouds and textured meshes at sub-millimeter resolution. Differentiated proprietary tools include SIR3D (a 3D-referenced information system built on Postgres/JSONb with a Unity-based viewer, analogous to GIS in 3D), ArcheoGRID (a collaborative documentation platform supporting OAI-PMH, RDFa, and DublinCore standards), the Conservatoire National des Données 3D (long-term national archiving in partnership with CINES and Huma-Num), and Retro-Color 3D (digital polychrome restoration combining spectrophotometry and calibrated photography).

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services — 3D digitization, 3D reconstruction including heritage BIM, heritage valorization (films, VR/AR/XR experiences), and exhibition design — supplemented by public research funding from universities, CNRS, regional authorities, ANR, and the European Commission. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through custom project quotes, typically structured as multi-year institutional contracts. Customer segments are predominantly public: national museums (Louvre, Musée d'Aquitaine, Berlin Staatliche Museen, MANN Naples), research institutions (C2RMF, CRP2A, EFA), and government/site managers (CFEETK Karnak, DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Cité de la Tapisserie d'Aubusson). Distribution is direct enterprise sales to cultural heritage institutions globally, with notable projects in Ethiopia, Gabon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Sri Lanka, and Europe.

Name

Archeovision

Legal name

Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

Website

https://archeovision.cnrs.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Archeovision is a French CNRS-attached research platform that applies 3D digitization, photogrammetry, and reconstruction technologies to cultural heritage for museums, research institutions, and government heritage agencies across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage 3D Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120), Museums (712110), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

akta.pro primary industry

Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers (THAJADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI), Monuments, Statues & Memorials (THAJACAB)

Keywords

• 3D heritage digitization
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Archaeological photogrammetry services
• Heritage documentation management
• Museum exhibition design

Headquarters

HQ city

Pessac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 3D Digitization Services: Service-based revenue from 3D digitization using lasergrammetry, terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry, airborne Lidar, and topographic surveys. Produces point clouds and textured meshes for cultural heritage objects and sites.
2. 3D Reconstruction Services: Production of 3D reconstructions of heritage sites and objects, including archaeological and architectural surveys, production of drawings and orthoimages, and heritage dedicated BIM.
3. Heritage Valorization Services: Production of films, VR/AR/XR experiences, interactive interfaces, and exhibition content for heritage enhancement and public engagement.
4. Exhibition Design and Production: Design, creation and production of temporary and permanent exhibitions for museums, galleries and cultural events worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Archeovision provides end-to-end 3D services for cultural heritage: 3D digitization of heritage sites and objects (using photogrammetry, lasergrammetry, airborne Lidar, topographic surveys), scientific 3D reconstruction, heritage valorization through films and immersive VR/AR/XR experiences, and exhibition design and production. The platform also develops proprietary research tools including ArcheoGRID (collaborative documentation platform), SIR3D (3D referenced information system), and the Conservatoire National des Données 3D (national 3D data archive), serving museums, research institutions, and local authorities.

Product overview

Archeovision is a French research platform combining CNRS/universities and private sector (ADERA SAS) expertise for 3D applied to cultural heritage. The platform operates two divisions: Archeovision Research manages scientific 3D projects and develops research tools, while Archeovision Production delivers digitization, reconstruction, and valorization services. Core products include ArcheoGRID (collaborative documentation management), SIR3D (3D referenced information system), Conservatoire National des Données 3D (data archiving), Consortium 3D HN (interdisciplinary research network), and Retro-Color 3D (digital polychrome restoration). Production services encompass 3D digitization, 3D reconstruction, heritage valorization (films/VR/AR/XR), and exhibition design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D Digitization Services Comprehensive 3D acquisition service for cultural heritage institutions and archaeological sites using lasergrammetry, terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry, airborne Lidar, topographic surveys, and sub-millimeter resolution full-color digitization.
• 3D Reconstruction Services Scientific-quality 3D reconstruction of disappeared monuments and archaeological features for museums, local authorities, and archaeological sites, using multidisciplinary methodologies and making results accessible to the general public.
• Heritage Valorization Services Production of films, interactive interfaces, augmented/virtual/mixed reality experiences, and immersive content designed for scientific mediation and heritage communication for museums, sites, and cultural events.
• Exhibition Design and Production Services Design, creation, and production of temporary and permanent exhibitions for museums, galleries, and cultural events worldwide, combining narrative content, scenography, and diverse technologies.
• ArcheoGRID Collaborative web application for managing and archiving iconographic documentation of 3D projects in digital humanities, supporting interoperability standards OAI-PMH, RDFa, and DublinCore for data exchange.
• SIR3D (Système d'Informations Référencées en 3D) 3D referenced information system software that associates 3D models with heterogeneous databases, enabling spatial queries and visualization of scientific data in a 3D environment, built on Postgres/JSONb with a Unity-based 3D viewer.
• Conservatoire National des Données 3D National 3D data preservation and long-term archiving service operated by Archeovision with Huma-Num and CINES, ensuring data backup and perpetuity for scientific 3D datasets.
• Consortium 3D HN Interdisciplinary research consortium (2024-2027 mandate) coordinating 26+ institutions across humanities, computer graphics, and optics to advance 3D data usage, preservation, and dissemination in research and culture.
• Retro-Color 3D Digital polychrome restoration platform using calibrated photography, spectrophotometry, and digital painting techniques to restitute original colors and material properties of heritage objects such as the Akhenaton bust and Herculanum murals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects conducted in multiple countries worldwide since 1993
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ADERA SAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADERA is a SAS subsidiary of the Universities of Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Pau and Bordeaux INP. Archeovision Production is a department of ADERA, created in 2005 under the impetus of CNRS and Nouvelle Aquitaine region to meet cultural heritage professionals' needs for 3D integration.
• CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS is the national research organization providing the research framework. The Archeovision platform is attached to UMR 6034 Archéosciences Bordeaux. The director of publication is Antoine Petit, CEO of CNRS.
• Université de BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding university partners through ADERA. Home institution of UMR 6034 Archéosciences Bordeaux where the platform is based on the Pessac campus.
• Université Bordeaux MontaignecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university providing academic framework and research personnel including Rémy Chapoulie as Platform Director.
• Université de La RochellesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing to ADERA SAS consortium for the Archeovision platform.
• Université de Pau et des Pays de l'AdoursupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing to ADERA SAS consortium for the Archeovision platform.
• Bordeaux INPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner engineering school contributing to ADERA SAS consortium for the Archeovision platform.
• Huma-Num (IR* Infrastructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationHuma-Num provides hosting for ArcheoGRID data and servers, backup services for all platform data, and operates the Conservatoire National des Données 3D.
• CINES (Centre Informatique National de l'Enseignement Supérieur)coreTechnology or IntegrationCINES provides long-term archival services for 3D data. Archeovision became a service provider for the CINES archival platform in March 2019 for archaeological data archiving.
• 3DHN Consortium (Consortium 3D HN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary network of 26+ institutions in SHS, computer graphics, and optics. Archeovision coordinates this consortium (2024-2027 mandate) which aims to become a major actor in 3D data usage, preservation and dissemination.
• PACEA UMR 5199supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch laboratory collaborating on SIR3D projects including Cussac cave documentation.
• GPR Human PastsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch group collaborating on SIR3D implementations for sites including La Peyrouse sanctuary and Cussac cave projects.
• Vesuvia ANR Programme / Université Toulouse Jean JaurèssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerANR-funded research program (carried by Alexandra Dardenay, Traces team) collaborating with Archeovision for 3D reconstruction of Neptune and Amphitrite house at Herculanum.
• CRP2A (Centre de Recherche en Physique Appliquée à l'Archéologie)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on colorimetry measurements using spectrocolorimeter Minolta CM-2600d for polychromy restoration projects.
• Notre-Dame Scientific Workshop (Chantier scientifique de Notre-Dame)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2020, ArcheoGRID has been the essential tool for fine management of all documentation for the Notre-Dame restoration project, part of the nDame ecosystem.
• Centre Franco-égyptien d'étude des temples de Karnak (CFEETK)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated ArcheoGRID instance for managing Karnak temple site photography. 40,000+ documents accessible via Karnak archives.
• C2RMF (Centre de Recherche et de Conservation des Musées de France)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Aurige de Delphes digitization project alongside Musée du Louvre and Archaeological Museums of Delphi.
• Université de Liège (ULiège)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dimitri Laboury on Akhenaton bust restoration providing scientific guidance for volume restitution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Iconem: French startup specializing in 3D digitization of cultural heritage sites at risk, using photogrammetry and AI. Direct competitor in heritage 3D services with similar target customers (museums, heritage authorities) and overlapping geographies.
• Factum Arte: Madrid-based company providing high-resolution 3D digitization, facsimile production, and conservation services for cultural heritage. Comparable offerings across heritage 3D scanning, reconstruction, and exhibition production.
• ScanLab Projects: UK creative studio specializing in large-scale 3D scanning and digital fabrication for heritage, architecture, and art. Comparable technology core (photogrammetry, laser scanning) and cultural heritage client base.
• CyArk: US-based nonprofit dedicated to digitally preserving cultural heritage sites using 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry. Directly comparable mission, technology stack, and customer base (museums, UNESCO sites).
• Art Graphique & Patrimoine (AGP): French company specializing in 3D survey, modeling, and visualization of heritage monuments and archaeological sites. Direct French competitor in heritage 3D digitization and architectural surveys.

Others

• Leica Geosystems (Hexagon): Provider of laser scanning and photogrammetry equipment (Leica BLK, RTC360) widely used in heritage digitization. Technology supplier rather than direct competitor, but increasingly offering heritage-specific workflows that overlap with service providers.
• Musée du Louvre (3D Department): Client of Archeovision with growing in-house 3D capabilities. Functions as both a customer and adjacent institutional actor conducting similar 3D digitization work for its own collections.

Regional players

• Service du Patrimoine Culturel de la Ville de Paris: French public institution managing heritage documentation and conservation projects, including the Notre-Dame restoration. Comparable expertise in heritage 3D and a key partner/adjacent actor for Archeovision on Notre-Dame.

Broad incumbents

• Historic England (Cloud9): UK public body leading heritage protection, including extensive 3D survey programs (e.g., the Stonehenge laser scan). Comparable institutional mandate and digital heritage capabilities, though focused on UK heritage.
• Google Arts & Culture: Google's cultural heritage platform offering 3D digitization, virtual tours, and high-resolution artifact scans. Overlaps with Archeovision's valorization services but operates at much larger scale with a free, public-facing model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Archeovision
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@archeovision
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/archeovision

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Archeovision