18 June 2012 Last updated at 07:08 ET

Scots team scan Mount Rushmore presidential heads

Mount Rushmore is among the international heritage sites to be scanned by the Scottish 10 project

Scottish experts have produced the first fly-through 3D animations of Mount Rushmore - America's iconic monument of four former presidents.

The recording allows digital visitors to sweep up the granite cliff in South Dakota and across the sculpted faces.

It also shows the valley behind the heads, known as The Hall of Records, which is inaccessible to the public.

The work was carried out by the Scottish 10 project, led by Historic Scotland and Glasgow School of Art.

The joint venture aims to digitally document all five of Scotland's world heritage sites and five international sites.

So far, the team has scanned St Kilda, New Lanark and Neolithic Orkney in Scotland, Mount Rushmore in America and the Queen's Stepwell - or Rani Ki Vav - in India.

'Global audience'

Work is set to get underway soon on the Eastern Qing Tombs in China.

Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "I am delighted to see Scottish expertise helping to interpret, manage and conserve this wonderful site.

"The Scottish 10 has recorded some of the world's most important and iconic heritage sites, and this new project at Mount Rushmore joins remarkable work already completed at locations including St Kilda, Rani Ki Vav Stepwell in India, and Neolithic Orkney.

"Historic Scotland through its partnership with Glasgow School of Art is taking Scottish digital expertise to a global audience, enhancing our country's reputation for innovation, creativity and scientific progress."

The project scanning Mount Rushmore was completed with American partner CyArk and the US National Park Service.