A digital and non-destructive integrated methodology for heritage modelling and deterioration mapping. The case study of the Moorish Castle in Sintra

Abstract

The development of non-destructive, non-contact and autonomous unmanned techniques is extremely important for the preservation of heritage integrity. This paper presents a digital integrated methodology combining Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Aerial Digital Photogrammetry (ADP) and Infrared Thermography (IRT), which accelerate data collection and facilitate the creation of point clouds, the deterioration mapping and the state of conservation monitoring of historic structures. Both Digital Photogrammetry and Infrared Thermography were coupled with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The proposed methodology was applied to the Moorish Castle in Sintra, Portugal. Manual Infrared Thermography, complemented with other traditional non-destructive techniques, were also applied in a pilot area for comparison purposes. Resultsdemonstrate the high potential of the integration of TLS, ADP and IRT techniques for heritage modelling digitalization, inspection and deterioration mapping with a positive impact on conservation and restoration projects.