From Digital Documentation to Immersive Heritage: Integrating Close-Range Photogrammetry, Laser Scanning, and Virtual Reality for the Preservation and Accessibility of the Ak-Saray Mausoleum in Samarkand

This article presents a methodological case study of the digital documentation, reconstruction, and immersive presentation of the Ak-Saray Mausoleum in Samarkand. The workflow combines terrestrial laser scanning, close-range photogrammetry, architectural CAD documentation, three-dimensional modelling, and virtual reality. The field survey used a FARO Focus M 70 terrestrial laser scanner from 48 positions; the resulting point-cloud data were processed in Autodesk ReCap Pro, while plans and sections were developed in AutoCAD. Close-range photogrammetry and documentary evidence were then used to reconstruct damaged and incomplete decorative elements. The reconstructed heritage model was developed in Autodesk 3ds Max and integrated into Unreal Engine to create an immersive virtual environment. The study demonstrates how a continuous digital workflow can connect measured architectural evidence with carefully distinguished interpretive reconstruction and public-oriented visualization. The approach has particular relevance for cultural heritage sites that are difficult to access, physically vulnerable, or incomplete. Rather than claiming experimentally demonstrated educational or accessibility outcomes, the article identifies virtual reality as a platform with clear potential for heritage interpretation, remote access, and future user-centred research.