The Lion Shrine is seen here, cordoned off, as the Nittany Lion statue undergoes a digital laser imaging procedure that will create a detailed digital model of the iconic campus fixture. A pair of metrology specialists from the engineering measurement firm Survice Metrology was at the site Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 22-23, to complete the procedure.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Kyle Herr, a metrologist with Survice Metrology, used a handheld scanner to digitally capture the image of the lion shrine.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

A red laser imaging dot moves across the left hind paw of the Nittany Lion statue at the Lion Shrine. Kyle Herr, a metrologist with Survice Metrology, did the scanning. The engineering measurement and modeling firm contracted to digitally construct a model of the Lion statue so Penn State will have a way to reconstruct the statue if it sustains any damage. Over the life-span of the shrine, the lion has had to have its right ear replaced tree times, twice because of vandalism.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

A digital model of the Nittany Lion Shrine statue's paw is visible on a computer screen as it is being constructed by metrologist Kyle Herr of engineering measurement and modeling company Survice Metrology on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The model will serve as a blueprint in case there is ever a need to reconstruct or copy the Penn State icon, a gift of the class of 1940 that was sculpted by Heinz Warneke.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Reflective reference points are seen here adhered to various points on the Nittany Lion statue at the Lion Shrine on Tuesday, Sept. 22, as the Lion undergoes digital modeling using lasers and metrology equipment. The statue is receiving the treatment to create a digital image that could be used to reconstruct the statue if it becomes damaged. Around a dozen such reference points were placed on the campus icon, allowing measurement specialists, called metrologists, to place their equipment at different points around the statue to construct a complete detailed digital recreation of the Lion.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

The head of the Nittany Lion statue at the Lion Shrine is visible through a piece of digital modeling hardware called a coherent laser scanner on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Engineering measurement and modeling services company Survice Metrology was on the University Park campus to create a digital image of the lion shrine.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Metrologist Kyle Herr examines parts of the Nittany Lion Shrine statue that he scanned with a digital scanning laser. Herr, of engineering measurement firm Survice Metrology, was one of two measurement specialists to conduct the procedure, which took place between Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 22-23. The three-dimensional measurements will allow reconstruction or recreation of the statue, a gift of the Class of 1940, in the event of damage.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Kyle Herr, a metrologist with Survice Metrology of Belcamp, Md., scans part of the Nittany Lion Shrine's back. Herr and others on the team worked into the night Tuesday, Sept. 22, using a Krypton scanner to digitally capture the lion. The resulting three-dimensional digital image will be able to be used to reconstruct the statue if it becomes damaged.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009

Work continued into the night on Tuesday, Sept. 22, as employees of the engineering measurement firm Survice Metrology created a digital scan of the Nittany Lion Shrine. The scan will create a digital image that could be used to reconstruct the statue if it becomes damaged.

Photo Credit: Annemarie Mountz

Year Taken: 2009