From ground surveying to 3D laser scanner: A review of techniques used for spatial documentation of historic sites

Modern technology has changed matters in documentation radically and promises to continue to bring rapid changes. Photographic and non-photographic (graphic) documentation tools are merging in one process, in which the digital photographic technology is the main base. 3D supports are still not popular among users involved in documentation of historic sites. Due to the digital technology, actually, there is an increasing gap between the specialized technician and non technician users. However, in order to build a bridge between the specialized technical and non technical users, a dialogue between them must now be created. They should not only discuss issues of data precision required and 3D accuracy standards, but simultaneously should discuss issues of achieving visualization production system, which can now be actually easily achieved by the modern digital photographic technology. This paper intends to present a review of the evaluation of historic sites documentation methods and survey techniques now available, focusing on the needs and requirements of the non-technical experts and users. It attempts to clarify some new aspects in documentation methods for the non-technical experts and users, and the impact of current technology in its quick development. This will be achieved through a comparative evaluation of the potentials of the application of digital methods in documentation, and in view of the main obtained quality, accuracy, time, costs and specific skills required. This evaluation covers traditional and pre electronic techniques to 3D laser scanning, which represents today the most advanced technology available for measuring and documenting objects, structures and landscapes.