Framing Digital Tools and Techniques in Built Heritage 3D Modelling: The Problem of Level of Detail in a Simplified Environment

Abstract

Recently, the built heritage sector has witnessed an increase demand for 3D models of historical sites mainly due to the widespread of new technologies in buildings' surveying. Although these technologies have been credited for enabling highly detailed 3D modelling of the built heritage, their implementation is still so complex and costly. This research aims to explore the possibility of implementing new low-cost digital acquisition technologies and modelling techniques as an alternative to the existing expensive ones in terms of level of detail (LOD), as an attempt to enable lowskilled users in simplified environment, which are faced paced leaning milieus in education, places with high constraints, or developing countries, to practically learn about their built heritage; consequently, contribute to its preservation. To achieve this purpose, the most diffused SFM and laser scanning open-source packages were first cross-compared using web-content analysis data collection method. Afterwards, the best programme from each category namely; Autodesk 123D catch and Reconstructme, accompanied with Canon D550 camera and Xbox Kinect, respectively, were intensively evaluated through an experiment. The analysis of the findings has suggested that low-cost close-range photogrammetry can replace laser scanning when there is a lack of funding and time.

Energy planning and forecasting approaches for supporting physical improvement strategies in the building sector: A review

“…One advantage of CityGML over other city 3D modelling approaches is its flexible discrete level of detail (LOD) which is not only confined to geometric but also sematic characteristics (Chalal and Balbo, 2014). However, since the granularity of geometric as well as semantic information varies from one LOD to another, the chosen level detail(s) influence the energy prediction accuracy.…”