The Use of Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Process of Building Models for Cultural Tourism, 3D Web and Augmented/Mixed Reality Applications

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are widely used in low-cost photogrammetry. Even small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) can deliver valuable data for the inventory of inaccessible and dangerous areas or objects. The acquisition of data for 3D object modeling is a complicated, time-consuming, and cost-intensive process. It requires the use of expensive equipment and often manual work as well as professional software. These are major barriers limiting the development of modern tourist platforms that promote local attractions. Information technologies offer new opportunities for the development of the services market, including the development of smart tourism services, as an integral part of the smart city concept. 3D models are an important element of this process as they form the basis for the use of new visualization technologies, such as Virtual, Mixed, and Augmented Reality (VR/MR/AR). 3D modeling provides a new opportunity to use AR/MR technology to present information about objects, virtual tours of the historic buildings, and their promotion. It also creates an opportunity to preserve the architectural heritage and preventive maintenance of buildings. Despite the increasing use of new measuring platforms and computer modeling techniques, the implementation of 3D building models in smart tourism services is still limited, focusing more on the results of scientific projects rather than on the implementation of the new ones. The paper presents an universal methodology for the inventory of historical buildings using low-cost UAVs. It describes the most important aspects related to the process of planning UAV measurement missions and photogrammetric data acquisition. The construction of 3D models and the possibilities of their further use to build smart tourism services based on Web/AR/MR/VR technology was also presented.

Protocol Development for Point Clouds, Triangulated Meshes and Parametric Model Acquisition and Integration in an HBIM Workflow for Change Control and Management in a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site

“…The proposed workflows ( Table 3 and Figure 13 ) are an important step in shaping historic SMART cities [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Synthetically both workflows cannot be understood separately, both allow us to protect our Heritage in its broadest dimension.…”

“…Note that in this second workflow we will prepare the models to be used either in augmented reality or in virtual reality. We highlight the importance in this case of the mesh models with texture, as indicated in Table 4 , because they will guarantee this photorealistic experience [ 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

Feeling of Safety and Comfort towards a Socially Assistive Unmanned Aerial Vehicle That Monitors People in a Virtual Home

“…To date, trust regarding older adults’ adoption of assistive technology has been determined in several ways, including whether the elderly feels safe and comfortable with the proposed solution [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The evaluation of these variables requires advanced physical prototyping or, as an alternative, virtual reality (VR) as a simulation tool that allows for fast, flexible and iterative testing processes [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Graphic Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the Study of Industrial Heritage Assets

“…Elevated building areas (roofs) or difficult access areas are inappropriate environments to obtain good images in this way [17,18]. Thanks to recent technology evolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are able to solve these difficulties [19][20][21].…”