Terrestrial Laser Scanning

The technological solutions today offered by Geomatics provide new very promising opportunities for Cultural Heritage surveying, either for the primary surveying process or for representation purposes, for objects of architectural, artistic and archaeological interest. The paper, after a short discussion of the main questions connected to this field, provides a review of modern techniques and related products, with specific interest

The research presented outlines the use of terrestrial laser scanning as a method of digitally capturing an at-risk Buffalo Jump site in south-central Alberta. The bison faunal material and other archaeological remains present at the base of the sandstone cliff were exposed following the 2013 flooding and migration of the main channel of the Jumpingpound Creek, and the remnant portion of the site is classified as highly threatened due to natural erosional processes along the riverbank. Terrestrial LiDAR was implemented to digitally capture the site and surrounding landscape in the fall of 2016, and a second point cloud dataset was collected in the fall of 2017. Results of the cloud-to-cloud comparison of the two non-contemporaneously collected datasets determined that in certain areas along the cutbank of the site locality, over 1.5 meters of erosion took place. Measurements of the sedimentary cutbank and geologic profiling were recovered from the 3-dimensional spatial data collected and comparisons were made for determinations of cutbank undercutting and instability at different locations based on the point-cloud data. This research will allow for more strategic mitigative archaeological initiatives to be implemented at this site of significant traditional provenance for the Blackfoot peoples to aid in its protection and preservation. TLS implementation creates accurate 3D visualization of archaeological sites it is argued that the analytical possibilities of point clouds and other forms of digital data require further exploration for potential applications in monitoring and use of these datasets for public outreach and sharing of cultural heritage resources. The resulting datasets provide a lasting digital record of the site, at multiple points in time, and the importance of properly archiving datasets for sharing and data compatibility for future use in monitoring is a necessity. As natural disasters such as flooding and wildfire increase in frequency, it is concluded that reality-capture technologies, such as TLS, are effective tools for sharing, documenting, and monitoring heritage resources.

Military architecture heritage is frequently built on rock masses affected by slope instability and weathering processes, which progressively undermine the foundations and cause collapses and toppling of the masonries. The latter can be also weakened by alteration of the stone surfaces, as a consequence of the interactions with the local environmental conditions. These conservation issues are emphasized for those sites, whose susceptibility to structural damages is also due to the similarity between the lithotypes ...

The merging of photogrammetry and computer vision has raised discussions regarding its ability to produce very dense point clouds, comparable, under circumstances to terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). This paper approaches this issue in terms of accuracy, density, methodology and ease to use. Three tests have been conducted to evaluate the process as well as data density, quality, registration and methodology. At the first test a 300mm sphere with texture has been used as a reference object is order to address data quality using image based techniques. Menci's Zscan was tested against the Bundler-PMVS work flow. The second test is a flat building facade, where Zscan, TLS and Bundler-PMVS are compared directly. The last test was contacted in an electricity power station which was an extremely complex structure. Two TLS stations were compared against 212 Bundler-PMVS photos. Quantitative comparisons based on several criteria are presented. For small and medium size objects and dis...

The use of 3D laser scanner in documenting heritage sites has increased significantely over the past few years. This is maily due to advances of such systems which allow for the fast and reliable generation of millions of 3D points. Despite the considerable progress of these approaches, the highest possible degree in efficiency and flexibility of data collection will be

ABSTRACT: LIDAR systems have come to be extensively used in photogrammetry and mapping sciences. The accuracy of 3D information is mainly affected by navigational and system-dependent uncertainties, but also by the laser beam properties and the nature of the light interaction on the object surface. At the moment, the system-dependent sources of error are much better known than those arising from laser light interaction. In this paper, a simulation approach for scanning LIDAR systems is presented and discussed. Simulating ...

Der Krautturm des Heidelberger Schlosses, heute als „Gesprengter Turm“ bekannt, wurde 1693 im Zuge des Pfälzer Erbfolgekriegs gesprengt. Der massive Rundturm aus rotem Sandstein, der eine Mauerstärke bis zu 6,50 m besitzt, wurde dabei teilweise zerstört, wobei sich ein riesiges abgesprengtes Mauerstück heute noch eindrucksvoll gegen den Turm legt. Es schien lohnenswert zu sein, mit einem Laserscanner ein maßstabsgetreues Modell des Turms aufzunehmen, um zu testen, inwiefern es möglich ist, diesen Turm virtuell wieder zusammenzusetzen. Zu diesem Zweck wurde der Turm in drei Tagen rundum von verschiedenen Standpunkten aus gescannt. Das Projekt war eine Kooperation von Doktoranden der Fachbereiche Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, Physische Geografie und Europäische Kunstgeschichte der Universität Heidelberg und resultierte aus dem Interesse der Beteiligten, Anwendungen und Möglichkeiten der jeweils anderen Fachbereiche kennenzulernen.

Graphic and metric information about the site and its environment and about the different structures
and artefacts located are indispensable for the optimal management of an archaeological excavation.
A Geographic Information System (GIS) proves useful in managing and analysing information and
data obtained from different sources. Two techniques of data capture, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS)
and close range photogrammetry, are used to generate accurate and high-resolution 3D models of a
cave, the silos and a combustion structure at the Can Sadurní site (Begues, NE Spain). This site is
especially noteworthy on account of its complete stratigraphy of the Catalonian Holocene. The capture
and processing of the photogrammetric and TLS data used to generate 3D models are discussed
in detail. These models cannot be obtained by classic archaeological techniques since the record is
made layer by layer, approximately one decimetre apart, with the result that the information between
the layers is lost. Our findings highlight the potential of these techniques for obtaining accurate
and photorealistic models that facilitate a complete analysis of the available information at an
archaeological site.      2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


La información gráfica y métrica sobre el yacimiento arqueológico y su entorno y sobre las diferentes estructuras y artefactos localizados son indispensables para la gestión óptima de una excavación arqueológica. Los Sistemas de Información Geográfica ( SIG) resultan útiles en el manejo y análisis de la información y los datos obtenidos a partir de diferentes fuentes. Dos técnicas de captura de datos , escaneo láser terrestre ( TLS) y la fotogrametría cercana del objeto, se han utilizado para generar modelos precisos y de alta resolución en 3D de la cavidad, los silos de almacenaje y las estructuras de combustión VII y VII de la cueva de Can Sadurní ( Begues , NE de España ) . Este yacimiento es especialmente notable a causa de haber resultado su estratigrafia arqueológica de las más completas del Holoceno catalán . La captura y el procesamiento de los datos fotogramétricos y TLS utilizados para generar modelos 3D se exlican en detalle. Estos modelos no se pueden obtener a partir de las técnicas clásicas arqueológicas de registro capa por capa con lo que la información entre las capas se pierde.  Los resultados ponen de relieve el potencial de estas técnicas para la obtención precisa de modelos fotorrealistas que facilitan un análisis completo de la información disponible en un yacimiento arqueológico.


La informació gràfica i mètrica sobre el jaciment arqueològic i el seu entorn, alhora que sobre les diferents estructures i artefactes localitzats són indispensables per a la gestió òptima d'una excavació arqueològica . Els Sistemes d'Informació Geogràfica ( SIG ) resulten útils en l’ús i anàlisi de la informació i les dades obtingudes a partir de diferents fonts. Dues tècniques de captura de dades, l’escaneig làser terrestre ( TLS ) i la fotogrametria propera de l'objecte, s'han emprat per generar models precisos i d'alta resolució en 3D de la cavitat, les sitges d'emmagatzematge i les estructures de combustió VII i VII de la cova de Can Sadurní (Begues, NE d'Espanya). Aquest jaciment és especialment notable a causa d'haver resultat la seva estratigrafia arqueològica una de les més completes de l'Holocè català. La captura i el processament de les dades fotogramètriques i TLS utilitzades per generar models 3D s’expliquen en detall. Aquests models no es poden obtenir a partir de les tècniques clàssiques arqueològiques de registre capa per capa, de manera que la informació entre les capes es perd. Els resultats posen en relleu el potencial d'aquestes tècniques per a l'obtenció precisa de models fotorealistes que faciliten una anàlisi completa de la informació disponible en un jaciment arqueològic

The superimposition of geological formations with marked contrast in geotechnical properties presents one of the most critical environments for slope instability due to the different response of the materials to the applied disturbances. Moreover, the above-mentioned geological setting is often associated with high risk conditions, since many isolated rock slabs located at a higher altitude than the surrounding countryside have been sites of historical towns or buildings.
The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the mechanisms determining instability in rock slabs overlying a soft substratum, with reference to two cultural heritage sites in Malta. Accurate investigations have been carried out to evaluate the geological, geotechnical and geomechanical properties together with the main geomorphological features of the soft clayey substratum and the overlying limestone rock mass.
The main instability processes have thus been identified and investigated through kinematic analyses and numerical modeling, combined with a 1992–2001 Persistent Scatterers monitoring of ground displacements. The study constitutes the basis for the subsequent restoration works.

While heritage monuments are all 3D objects within the landscape the potential for recording and analysis of such objects in 3D environments has only recently been realised. This presents the opportunity not only for point-in-time, millimetrically-accurate digital records but has implications for the display of heritage both in museums, across the web and for the placing of objects within their historical context. The Fort at Al Zubarah and the petroglyphs at Jebel Jassasiya are two of the most important yet antithetical heritage sites in Qatar, each of which was laser scanned as part of an investigation into the potential for 3D datasets to advance research, analysis and conservation on two diverse sites.

A holistic methodology combining conventional diagnostic investigations and kinematic analysis performed on 3D laser scanning survey is here proposed for rockfall hazard assessment and erosion patterns study, to map critical sectors and evaluate potential impacts on the conservation of cultural heritage sites built on unstable rock masses. Experiments carried out on the fortifications of Citadel, Gozo (Malta), led us to classify the susceptibility of the cliff surfaces to instability mechanisms, recognizing the wedge failure as the highest hazardous one. Observations on thin section of the rock textural properties and measurements of the resistance to abrasion completed the laser-based analysis, clarifying the intrinsic weakness of the outcropping limestones. Levels of conservation criticality were assigned to the rock mass sectors located underneath the historical buildings, and on site monitoring system was installed to follow the evolution of the crack patterns.

Housed within the distinctive architectural fabric of the former L&N Railroad Depot and listed on the Water Avenue Historic District National Register of Historic Places, the Old Depot Museum depicts life in Alabama and the histories that made Selma the "Queen City of the Black Belt." Formally known as the Selma/Dallas County Museum of History and Archives, collections range from the times of prehistoric American Indians to the Civil War, continuing through the Depression and the historic path of the Civil Rights Movement, illustrating how a site that was once home to a Confederate foundry became a critical repository for the preservation and interpretation of key documents, artifacts, and photographs related to "Bloody Sunday", as one of the most significant incidents of American Civil Rights Movement, and its aftermath. Through enlightening and enriching displays, Selma's Old Depot Museum provides unparalleled educational opportunities for the general public and area schools, with particular respect to the path from slavery to voting rights for African Americans. This paper presents a research project that brought the architectural fabric and archives of the Old Depot Museum in Selma to life, both on-site and remotely through Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) and other technology, including LiDAR, 360 o photography, photogrammetry, and UAVs. The findings of this project offer a workflow for digitally documenting and showcasing other cultural heritage sites, underscoring the importance of redundancy in digital captures and platform flexibility for information integration and dissemination.

As an active remote sensing technique, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) is popular for constructing detailed 3D models of complex objects. To create a complete 3D scene, TLS point clouds scanned from multiple positions need to be registered to the same coordinate system. Conventional registration methods demand significant amount of manual work. Recent studies use geometric features (points, lines and planes) matching to automate the registration procedure. However, a fully automatic and simple registration method is still a popular research interest. In this paper, a new registration approach is proposed which uses semantic information to automate the geometric feature matching. Knowledge is used to identify semantic meaning of geometric features and classify them. The semantic type and spatial pattern of features is organized and analysed in a hierarchical manner. This provides a basis for structured feature matching reducing the search space and hence instigating automation in re...