The Application of 3D Scanner Technology in Building Archeology and Heritage Preservation

Nowadays, the benefits that ground-based laser scanners (TLS Terrestrial Laser Scanning) bring to architecture and heritage site conservation are undisputed. The emergence and widespread use of Building Information Management (BIM) systems, their workflows, and standards, alongside the demand for reliable data, have made the demand for these tools even more justified. Many professionals cannot imagine planning reconstructions and renovations without point clouds, while, others still struggle with the challenges of this technology. The article summarizes fifteen years of experience in measuring, digitalization, and modelling of archaeological sites, castles, churches, and palaces. We illustrate our points with the results from various phases of the survey of the Visegrád monument complex, notably the Royal Palace. Excavations and object surveys often reveal details like statues, reliefs, keystones, and other findings may be found where the laser scanner’s resolution (the density of points captured per millimetre) is no longer enough for a detailed digitization. In such cases—like the ones presented in the paper—structured light projection and photogrammetry are used.