Integration of Digital Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning for Heritage Documentation

Within the paper the potential of combining terrestrial laser scanning and close range photogrammetry for the documentation of heritage sites is discussed. Besides improving the geometry of the model, the integration aims on supporting the visual quality of the linear features like edges and cracks in the historical scenes. Although the laser scanner gives very rich surface details, it does not provide sufficient data to construct outlines for all surface features of the scanned object, evene though they are clearly defined in the reality. In our approach, information on edges and linear surface features is based on the analysis of the images. For this purpose an integrated segmentation process based on image data will support the extraction of object geometry information from the laser data. The approach applies image based semi-automated techniques in order to bridge gaps in the laser scanner data and add new details, which are required to build more realistic perception of the scene volume. The investigations and implementation of the experiments are based on data from Al-Khasneh, a well-known monument in Petra, Jordan