commenting on only the process described (i'd love to see more details) seems that the goal is to begin the automation of full scribed log work - the logs mentioned are somehow scanned (photography? laser?)
Laser
pretty cool.
new energy works used a handheld laser scanner while helping to recreate an organ from lithuania at the
eastman school of music. they scanned each religious sculpture on the original. the plan was to rough them out on a cnc machine and each piece was to be finished and detailed by hand... though i do not know at what state the carving is at.