Documentation of the Holy Monastery of Daphni Within a Time Span of 20 Years—A Comparative Approach

In 1999, the Attica region experienced a severe earthquake that damaged the Holy Monastery of Daphni, a UNESCO Heritage monument. The Ministry of Culture commissioned a detailed geometric documentation project using the state-of-the-art methods available at the time. More than two decades later, in 2023, a new documentation project was conducted using modern technologies and equipment. This paper makes a comparison of the two projects in terms of the equipment and the methodologies used, the personnel needed, and the hours spent documenting the same complicated monument in two different time periods, spanning 20 years. Moreover, it attempts to make a comparison between the different deliverables, focusing on regions that back then appeared damaged or cracked. Key differences include a significant reduction in field and processing time, a dramatic decrease in personnel needs, and a shift from 2D outputs to integrated 3D models. This study highlights how technological advancements have enhanced precision and efficiency in documenting complex heritage sites.