Jul 2026· The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences· 0 citations· 4 references
Abstract
Abstract. The 3D documentation of complex scenes—characterized by restricted spaces, irregular geometries, and poor lighting—remains a significant challenge in cultural heritage. This study proposes a rapid data acquisition methodology based on the multi-sensor fusion of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Spherical Photogrammetry (SP). The approach was validated in two distinct complex environments: an ancient Egyptian rock-cut tomb (QH36, Aswan, Egypt) and a natural Iberian sanctuary cave (Cueva de la Lobera, Jaén, Spain). The methodology uses TLS to establish a high-precision geometric backbone, achieving registration errors below 0.5 cm. By extracting Ground Control Points (GCPs) directly from the TLS point cloud, the reliance on traditional total station surveying was significantly reduced, enhancing fieldwork efficiency. SP was implemented to obtain realistic textures and to support geometry by using a 360-degree multi-camera with integrated LED lighting, providing full spherical coverage and high-resolution textures. Results indicate that SP is at least six times faster than conventional photogrammetry. Furthermore, the use of TLS-derived meshes enabled advanced digital masking to remove non-interest objects (e.g., archaeological equipment) from the final models. While conventional photogrammetry remains the benchmark for fine architectural details, this research demonstrates that the TLS-SP fusion is the most viable solution for the rapid, high-accuracy documentation of constrained heritage sites. This hybrid workflow ensures geometric integrity while drastically reducing acquisition times, providing a robust framework for future archaeological and conservation projects.
Abstract. High-resolution 3D documentation of cultural heritage sites is essential for their preservation. While terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) remains the gold standard, it is often cost-intensive compared to photogrammetry. This study evaluates three image-based reconstruction techniques, Multi-View Stereo (MVS), Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) and 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), by applying them to a complex scene featuring a chapel and its surrounding vegetation, sensed from an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). A hybrid TLS/MVS model provides a high-accuracy reference. Using identical interior and exterior camera parameters of the 105 UAV-acquired images, we generate dense point clouds with all methods and assess geometric accuracy and completeness using the M3C2 algorithm. Results show that MVS achieves superior accuracy (standard deviation of all M3C2 distances: MVS = 0.11 m, NeRF = 0.15 m), whereas NeRF attains up to 20% higher completeness, particularly in low-texture and vegetation-occluded regions. The 3DGS point cloud was deemed too sparse and was therefore not used for further analysis. The study highlights the potential of NeRFs to recover partially occluded or sparsely textured geometries that are challenging for MVS and suggests a complementary use of both approaches for cost-efficient documentation of cultural heritage.
Frederik Schulte, P. Akwensi, L. Winiwarter· The International Archives o...· 0 citations
An integrated and open digital workflow for the survey, management, and reuse of complex architectural heritage, using Villa Aldrovandi-Mazzacorati as a case study is presented, offering a scalable and transferable framework for future 3D heritage initiatives across architectural and territorial contexts.
Marco Medici, Andrea Sterpin, Stefano Settimo et al.· Journal on Computing and Cul...· 0 citations
The first results of the AI-based processing pipeline developed within the HERITALISE project are presented, applied to three multiscale case studies at the Reggia di Venaria Reale, demonstrating strong photorealistic rendering capabilities, particularly for complex material properties and geometrically challenging interiors, whilst highlighting current limitations for metric surveying applications.
F. Chiabrando, A. Lingua, Alessio Martino et al.· The International Archives o...· 0 citations
This paper presents a pilot educational workflow that couples 3D remote sensing with heritage-driven pedagogy by engaging architecture master’s students in the documentation and digital archiving of Transylvanian cultural sites. Using terrestrial and mobile 3D scanning, students documented multiple typologies—wooden churches (Târgușor, Tioltiur), historical ensembles (Mociu, Coplean), industrial sites (1 Mai–Luduș, Vânătorilor–Luduș), and an urban street segment (Potaissa)—to generate dense point clouds that served as the basis for geometric reconstruction, semantic interpretation, and condition assessment. The study describes how the characteristics of different construction systems (timber, brick, stone, mixed structures) relate to point-cloud quality, survey coverage, and subsequent CAD/BIM drafting, with attention to the qualitative reading of minor deformations in wooden churches and of degradation patterns in masonry and industrial buildings. We also consider how artefacts in the data (noise, occlusions, registration errors) affect scene understanding and the interpretation of derived observations relevant to condition assessment and, prospectively, to monitoring. For the Tioltiur dual-sensor case, the TLS and SLAM datasets were compared through an internal CloudCompare registration check (final RMS 0.1121 on 50,000 points, fixed scale 1.0 and theoretical overlap 100%), surface-density displays (r = 0.005 for the Z+F dataset and for the GeoSLAM dataset), fitted-wall-plane readings (dip values around 89 deg. and 85 deg.) and a longitudinal section documenting roof/vault deformation. Beyond technical performance, the paper examines the self-reported formative impact on students’ digital skills and their understanding of cultural values, arguing that participation in 3D data acquisition, processing, and interpretation positions them as co-creators of a living digital archive. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires (n = 13 each) are analysed descriptively—counts, percentages and medians with interquartile ranges—because the two instruments are unmatched and carry no shared identifier, so no paired test is applied; post-workshop self-ratings of technical competence, heritage understanding, archival awareness and collaboration were consistently high (medians 4–5), with uneven access to VR the main gap. By connecting point-cloud-based documentation workflows with heritage education, the project outlines a transferable, monitoring-ready baseline model in which 3D remote sensing supports both careful documentation and the transmission of regional identity and cultural meaning in architectural training. As an exploratory pilot with a small, self-reported sample, the study reports descriptive and qualitative findings rather than validated metric or statistical results.
A. Voinea, C. Neamțu, Virgil Pop· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
Abstract In the 21st century, the cost of personal computers and digital cameras has reduced significantly. This technological advancement means that collecting large amounts of data has become inexpensive. The reduced cost of data collection corresponds with a decline in the awareness of meticulous planning in photogrammetric projects and an increase in the volume of unstructured data. CyArk, a non-profit organization based in California, has documented heritage sites globally using a combination of LiDAR and photogrammetry and published their datasets through the OpenHeritage3D portal, an open-access platform. These datasets often lack proper documentation, standardization, and modularization. Although these data can create photorealistic models, they do not contain survey data and meticulous project planning, resulting in unstructured data. While existing literature explores the reusability of CyArk data through 3D modelling, mapping, and architectural drawing, the current literature lacks a systematic review of CyArk’s capture process, OpenHeritage3D’s archival method, and the accuracy of the 3D data. This study reviews the datasets from OpenHeriage3D using RealityCapture and 3Dsurvey software. The two case studies aim to deliver traditional 2D façade documentation from LiDAR and photogrammetric data. Ultimately, this article provides suggestions for CyArk and OpenHeritage3D to improve the process of data creation and storage.
Chung-Ting Esmond Lo, G. Bevan· Preservation, Digital Techno...· 0 citations
Abstract. This paper presents a semi-automated pipeline for extracting architectural plans from terrestrial LiDAR point clouds of archaeological sites characterized by irregular geometries and significant surface degradation. The proposed workflow converts dense three-dimensional data into simplified two-dimensional representations by combining geometric alignment, expert-guided cross-section selection, feature detection using Intrinsic Shape Signatures (ISS), region-based segmentation, and polyline simplification. The method is specifically designed to handle rock-cut tomb environments, where erosion, noise, and non-planar surfaces complicate conventional Scan-to-Plan approaches. The pipeline is evaluated on six tombs from the Sheikh Said necropolis in Middle Egypt, covering a range of architectural configurations and preservation states. Results demonstrate that the method efficiently produces CAD-compatible outlines that capture the dominant structural geometry while significantly reducing manual drafting time. However, the accuracy of the generated plans depends on surface conditions, with degraded or ornamented areas introducing geometric artifacts that require expert refinement. The proposed approach provides a robust geometric baseline for archaeological documentation and highlights the potential of human-in-the-loop workflows for complex heritage environments.
Marianna Bartrick-Krana, Roberto de Lima-Hernandez, A. Vandesande et al.· The International Archives o...· 0 citations