This article presents a critical analysis of the evolution of geomatics data acquisition technologies in architectural heritage. The review traces this progression from 15th-century scientific drawings through discrete surveying methods and early analogue photogrammetry, culminating in modern massive capture systems such as digital photogrammetry and laser scanning. These advanced techniques have fundamentally transformed traditional approaches to 3D modelling. Based on the recent literature, we explore how this data is increasingly integrated into heritage building information modelling (HBIM), digital twins, and AI-based tools, driving a paradigm shift in the development of sustainable conservation strategies for historic buildings. Finally, while digital tools can actively reduce the environmental impact of buildings, we critically weigh these benefits against the direct energy and carbon costs of the digitisation process itself.
Costa-Jover et al. (Thu,) studied this question.