Scotland is using new technology to achieve a cultural first, MSPs have been told.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop revealed it would be the first country to digitally record its collection of national monuments in 3D.
She highlighted the work of the Scottish 10 project, which will see all five of the country's world heritage sites digitally scanned using laser technology to create accurate 3D records.
The project, a joint venture between Historic Scotland and Glasgow School of Art, will also document five international sites, including Mount Rushmore in the United States.
Ms Hyslop said: "We now have a commitment to digitally record the 345 properties in the care of Scottish ministers. Scotland will be the first country in the world to digitally document its national collection of monuments in 3D."
The Culture Secretary told Holyrood that using digital technology to capture historic sites, documents and artefacts "provides tremendous potential not only for increasing access to sites, archives and information, but for capturing the imagination and interest of young and old alike and encouraging more visitors to Scotland".
She added: "By improving the quality of the information accessible online we can encourage more people to benefit from the considerable resources available to them through the internet.
"We really should be enthused about our digital heritage and the capability it has for reaching out and connecting with people, and what it can do to inspire visitors, attract visitors."
Labour's Patricia Ferguson said the work to digitally capture Scotland's heritage was "an important part of the work of recording and making accessible many aspects of our heritage".
This, she said, could improve access to valuable or fragile historic documents, making them "available to read or see by anyone with a broadband connection".
