Film and TV productions now generate up to 4,000 3D scans per project, but most studios discard the raw data and work only with simplified, compressed versions. This matters because those raw scans are irreplaceable. Current practice treats each scan as a one-off asset, then throws away the high-resolution original. Studios lose the ability to reuse, repurpose, or revisit that data for future productions, sequels, or virtual sets. The VoluStor project builds a platform that keeps the original scan intact, using artificial intelligence to automatically tag, organise, and search those assets so they remain usable across multiple projects. If successful, the platform could cut production costs, speed up creative workflows, and let studios generate new revenue from existing 3D assets. The project targets 160 productions on board by year five, with £12.8 million in revenue and an estimated return on investment of 53 times. It also expects to create 50–70 full-time jobs. For an industry where scanning is already standard but data management is not, VoluStor addresses a practical bottleneck that quietly drives up costs and wastes time.
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The VoluStor project aims to develop a groundbreaking solution for managing 3D scanned assets in the film and high-end television (HETV) industry. As productions increasingly rely on 3D scanning, generating up to 4,000 scans per project, there's an urgent need for better ways to preserve and utilise this data. At its core, our innovation takes a fundamentally different approach to handling 3D scans. Rather than processing scans into simplified assets (the current industry standard) VoluStor preserves and enriches the original raw data. Think of it like having a high-resolution digital negative instead of a compressed JPEG - preserving the original information for future use. Our platform will employ advanced artificial intelligence to automatically understand and organise these complex 3D assets, making them immediately useful while preserving their long-term value. This includes automated content analysis, intelligent search capabilities, and tools for discovering and reusing existing assets across their current and future productions. A crucial aspect of the project involves real-world validation through beta testing with major industry partners. This phase will provide valuable performance metrics and user feedback, driving iterative improvements and ensuring the solution meets practical production needs. By transforming how studios manage their 3D scans, VoluStor aims to help reduce production costs, improve creative workflows, and establish new revenue streams. Volustor is targeting 160 productions on board by year 5 generating £12.8m revenue, the creation of 50-70 FTE jobs with an ROI of 53X.
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