Historic Centre of Telč

Testing of Close-Range Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning for Easy Documentation of Historical Objects and Buildings Parts

Modern documentation of cultural heritage can achieve high accuracy and efficiency using low-cost technologies, though their suitability varies by object type. This study finds that laser scanning is ideal for buildings, while close-range photogrammetry excels for sculptures. A 16th-century building in Jachymov was documented using a BLK360 laser scanner and a Canon Powershot camera, with data processed via Cyclone Register 360 Plus and Agisoft Metashape. In Telč additional testing included a low-cost ViDOC system, which proved effective only for very close or small objects (up to ~5 meters). Analysis in CloudCompare revealed that while laser scanners capture building details well, hidden spaces require drones or combined photogrammetry approaches. The findings highlight the potential of affordable, rapidly evolving technologies for heritage documentation, with tailored methods optimizing precision and accessibility.