3d scanning and photogrammetry for heritage recording: A comparison

There is a high demand in documentation of cultural heritage objects such as artifacts, sculptures or buildings. In the past years, laser scanning, or 3D scanning in general, has been used increasingly for cultural heritage recording and the question arose if this new method can replace traditional methods like close-range photogrammetry. To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of both methods, i3mainz has carried out some case studies for cultural heritage documentation. Different typical objects were chosen and characteristical parts of them were recorded both by photogrammetry and scanning. Documented objects include an archaeological stone wall, baroque relief plates, Stone Age artifacts, ancient statues and the façade of a classical castle. Besides 3D scanning all these examplary objects were also recorded with standard stereophotogrammetry which is the most popular heritage recording method so far. Results are usually line drawings, but the creation of orthophotos or digital surface models is possible, too. In this paper five case studies are shortly introduced and the results of both measurement techniques are presented and compared. The aim is to give users (especially those who are not surveying experts) recommendations, which method is suited best for what kind of application, or even if a combination of 3D scanning and photogrammetry is advisable. Criteria like quality of the results, amount of cost and time, required equipment and occurring problems are to be considered