Combined Methodologies for the Survey and Documentation of Historical Buildings: The Castle of Scalea (CS, Italy)

Abstract

In the last few years, new technologies have become indispensable tools for specialists in the field of cultural heritage for the analysis, reconstruction and interpretation of data but also for promotion of artefacts or buildings sometimes inaccessible or in a bad state of conservation. The discipline of geomatics offer many opportunities and solutions for integrated digital surveys and the documentation of heritage (point-based methods, image-based photogrammetry and their combination): These data can be processed in order to derive metric information and share them using databases or GIS (geographic information system) tools. This paper is focused on the description of combined survey methodologies adopted for the geometric and architectural documentation of the site and surviving structures of the Castel of Scalea (Cosenza, Italy). It is a typical context where traditional survey procedures do not fully succeed or require a longer amount of time and great effort if a high level of accuracy is requested: For this reason, aerial close-range digital photogrammetry enhanced by the GNSS (global navigation satellite system), and total station positioning systems have been used at various levels of detail for the production of a detailed 3D model and 2D thematic maps with an excellent level of in the positioning of the structures and in the architectural drawing. Thanks to the collected dataset, it was possible to better identify the building units (CF), to digitize the limits of the masonry stratigraphic units (USM), and to draw up a first constructive diachronic sequence hypothesis on which to base chronology. Moreover, some particular masonry techniques have been sampled and compared at the regional level with the aim to better dating of constructive expedients. It was finally demonstrated how the use of integrated methodologies allows us to obtain a complete and detailed documentation including information regarding not only architectural and geometrical features but also archaeological and historical elements, building materials and decay evidences—all useful as support of the interpretation of data.

A Multi-Analytical Study for the Enhancement and Accessibility of Archaeological Heritage: The Churches of San Nicola and San Basilio in Motta Sant’Agata (RC, Italy)

“…The current trend is to combine range-based techniques, such as laser scanning [32], with image-based methods, such as digital photogrammetry [33,34], with the aim of getting the benefits of both techniques [35,36]. If, on the one hand, the biggest advantage of UAVsupported photogrammetry is the possibility of reaching the highest part of the buildings, then, on the other hand, the main advantage of the laser scanning technique is the direct creation of point clouds that define the object or scene: in photogrammetry, in fact, the point cloud can be produced after several processing steps.…”

“…As preliminary task, a topographic survey of the hillfort (an area of about 6.5 ha) was carried out, with the aim of obtaining a georeferenced and metrically correct digital model from which to extract DEM (digital elevation model), contour lines, sections and 2D orthophotos. For this step, aero-photogrammetry, combined with GNSS (global navigation satellite system) positioning systems, was used according to an approach already successfully tested during other work [36]. The flights for topography were carried out using a "double grid" scheme.…”

Modeling of Cultural Heritage Artifacts with Images Obtained from Smartphone Cameras

“…Bu yöntemler, gelecekte tarihi ve kültürel miras nesnelerine büyük faydalar sağlar. Geçmişte belgeleme çalışmaları için klasik ölçüm yöntemleri tercih edilirken yakın zamanda araştırmacılar fotogrametrik yöntemleri tarihi eserlerin belgelenmesinde [15,16] ve karmaşık binaların belgelenmesinde [17,18] kullanmışlardır. Fotogrametri, tarihi bina ve eserlerin 3 boyutlu modellerini üretmek için kültürel mirasın belgelenmesinde etkin bir şekilde kullanılmaktadır [19][20][21][22].…”

Digital Modelling and Accuracy Verification of a Complex Architectural Object Based on Photogrammetric Reconstruction

“…Over the past few years, these new technologies have become essential tools for cultural heritage professionals to analyse, reconstruct, and interpret data. The application of photogrammetric reconstruction ranges from the reconstruction of museum collections [16,17], the documentation of buildings and complexes of buildings [2,18] to the reconstruction of fragments of the historical landscape [19]. Photogrammetric reconstructions are also used in a wide range of architectural modelling work.…”