Photogrammetry Tools Research Articles

Digitization of the Virtual Reality Laboratory Through Photogrammetry Tools (SfM)

The present paper focuses on generating a digital laboratory model at the department by applying the structure from motion technique. The generated digital model is then utilized to create simulation models for application in virtual and augmented reality environments. Nine different approaches to photogrammetric imaging in the laboratory were tested in the experiment. These approaches involved variations in the number of photographs and scanning positions. The results of the experiment were divided into three categories: unsuitable, which required significant modification; incomplete, which required further modification; and suitable, which was directly usable. Some images were unusable due to the similarity of objects in the scene. Experiments showed that some parts of the laboratory were more appropriate to image separately. It was also found that dark and shiny surfaces of objects presented a problem for the computation of the models. Therefore, it was necessary to use markers or colours to eliminate this problem.

Heliostat geometrical characterization by UAV-assisted, close-range photogrammetry

An innovative approach for the characterization of the mirror geometry of Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) plants is presented in this article. The approach takes advantage of the current advances in the commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to perform airborne, close-range photogrammetry for accurate characterization of the mirror’s geometry. To improve spatial resolution and, thus, reconstruction performance, the approach involves a projector for projecting a feature-rich image on the surface of the mirror to be characterized. A UAV flying on a predetermined flight path is used to capture overlapping snapshots of the projected image using its on-board high definition digital camera. By the use of photogrammetry tools, the snapshots are stitched together and processed accordingly to reconstruct the surface of the reflector. Although the approach was tested and validated experimentally by characterizing the mirror surface of a single-facet heliostat, the developed method can also be applied for the characterization of any type of solar concentrating mirror geometry.

Geoprocessing of archival aerial photos and their scientific applications: A review

Abstract Poland as well as other countries keep extensive collections of 20th and 21st-century aerial photos, which are underexploited compared to such other archival materials as satellite imagery. Meanwhile, they offer significant research potential in various areas, including urban development, land use changes, and long-term environmental monitoring. Archival photographs are detailed, often obtained every five to ten years, and feature high resolution, from 20 cm to 1 m. Their overlap can facilitate creating precise digital models that illustrate topography and land cover, which are essential variables in many scientific contexts. However, rapidly transforming these photographs into geographically accurate measurements of the Earth’s surface poses challenges. This article explores the obstacles in automating the processing of historical photographs and presents the main scientific research directions associated with these images. Recent advancements in enhancing work˚ows, including the development of modern digital photogrammetry tools, algorithms, and machine learning techniques are also discussed. These developments are crucial for unlocking the full potential of aerial photographs, making them easier accessible and valuable for a broader range of scientific fields. These underutilized photographs are increasingly recognized as vital in various research domains due to technological advancements. Integrating new methods with these historical images offers unprecedented opportunities for scientific discovery and historical understanding, bridging the past with the future through innovative research techniques.

Remote sensing of Antarctic polychaete reefs (Serpula narconensis): reproducible workflows for quantifying benthic structural complexity with action cameras, remotely operated vehicles and structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry

AbstractQuantifying the structural complexity provided by biogenic habitat structures is important in ecology, conservation and management, and yet remains a challenging task, particularly in deep sea and polar environments, that current photogrammetry tools can alleviate. In this study, we demonstrate how small remotely operated vehicles and compact underwater GoPro® action cameras can be easily integrated into coastal Antarctic surveys to quantify structural complexity of under‐ice benthos via underwater photogrammetry. Forty‐four pairs of 1 m2 quadrats at 1 cm resolution, each comprising an orthomosaic and three‐dimensional reconstructions, were analyzed to describe relationships between benthic cover and structural complexity metrics. The study case provided insights into a unique biogenic habitat, highlighting the role of integrating structural complexity metrics in Antarctic benthic surveys. Although no clear relationships between structural complexity and biodiversity were found, high cover of live reef‐building polychaetes was associated with higher levels of structural complexity, particularly fractal dimension (D). Further, broken biogenic structures, product of disturbance events retain habitat structural complexity known to be associated with larvae settlement and biogenic reef growth. This suggests that D can be used as a metric for detecting subtle changes in biogenic structural complexity. We build from available open‐source code, a reproducible scientific workflow that is expected to facilitate the acquisition and analysis of structural complexity metrics. The workflow presented aims to encourage and accelerate the use of photogrammetry tools for benthic studies aiming to quantify biogenic structural complexity across depths and latitudes.

An Open-Source Photogrammetry Workflow for Reconstructing 3D Models.

Acquiring accurate 3D biological models efficiently and economically is important for morphological data collection and analysis in organismal biology. In recent years, structure-from-motion (SFM) photogrammetry has become increasingly popular in biological research due to its flexibility and being relatively low cost. SFM photogrammetry registers 2D images for reconstructing camera positions as the basis for 3D modeling and texturing. However, most studies of organismal biology still relied on commercial software to reconstruct the 3D model from photographs, which impeded the adoption of this workflow in our field due the blocking issues such as cost and affordability. Also, prior investigations in photogrammetry did not sufficiently assess the geometric accuracy of the models reconstructed. Consequently, this study has two goals. First, we presented an affordable and highly flexible SFM photogrammetry pipeline based on the open-source package OpenDroneMap (ODM) and its user interface WebODM. Second, we assessed the geometric accuracy of the photogrammetric models acquired from the ODM pipeline by comparing them to the models acquired via microCT scanning, the de facto method to image skeleton. Our sample comprised 15 Aplodontia rufa (mountain beaver) skulls. Using models derived from microCT scans of the samples as reference, our results showed that the geometry of the models derived from ODM was sufficiently accurate for gross metric and morphometric analysis as the measurement errors are usually around or below 2%, and morphometric analysis captured consistent patterns of shape variations in both modalities. However, subtle but distinct differences between the photogrammetric and microCT-derived 3D models could affect the landmark placement, which in return affected the downstream shape analysis, especially when the variance within a sample is relatively small. At the minimum, we strongly advise not combining 3D models derived from these two modalities for geometric morphometric analysis. Our findings can be indictive of similar issues in other SFM photogrammetry tools since the underlying pipelines are similar. We recommend that users run a pilot test of geometric accuracy before using photogrammetric models for morphometric analysis. For the research community, we provide detailed guidance on using our pipeline for building 3D models from photographs.

Evaluation of Photogrammetry Tools following Progress Detection of Rebar towards Sustainable Construction Processes

In the attainment of digitization and sustainable solutions under Industry 4.0, effective and economical technology like photogrammetry is gaining popularity in every field among professionals and researchers alike. In the market, various photogrammetry tools are available. These tools employ different techniques and it is hard to identify the best among them. This study is an attempt to develop a methodology for the assessment of photogrammetry tools. Overall, 37 photogrammetry tools were found via literature review and open sources, out of which 12 tools were shortlisted. The evaluation process consisted of three steps, i.e., metadata and visual inspection, comparison with the ground truth model, and comparison with the averaged-merged point cloud model. In addition, a validation test was also performed on the final sorted photogrammetry tools. This study followed a sustainable construction progress monitoring theme for rebar and covered the maximum number of photogrammetry tools for comparison by considering the most authentic evaluation and validation techniques, which make it exclusive.

COMPARISON OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY TOOLS CONSIDERING REBAR PROGRESS RECOGNITION

Abstract. Construction progress monitoring is an important process throughout the project timeline towards its successful completion. Among imaging techniques, photogrammetry is considered as economical and effective method. However, few studies can be found on construction progress monitoring via photogrammetry; thus, not much guideline is available for this domain. This study evaluated the photogrammetry tools for the progress assessment of the rebar grid framework. Photogrammetry tools were evaluated and analysed following defined criteria, and Agisoft Metashape, and 3DF Zephyr were identified as better options. This study aims to provide a guideline to construction industry professionals and stakeholders towards the adoption of photogrammetric progress assessment for construction activities.

Estrategias mercadológicas del sector del mueble en el oriente michoacano, caso de la empresa tomper

This work presents a proposal on how to improve the sporting gesture technique of the players of the Volleyball team of the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia –UPTC, by studying the kinematics of their movements, so that trainers can carry out the evaluation, monitoring and follow-up of the biokinematics and thus improve the technique of execution of their movements. This is accomplished through the use of advanced digital photogrammetry tools during the trainings, and after video processing, make a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of sports gestures and improve the performance of athletes and the team in less time. It seeks to obtain better scores in competitions, motivating young people to practice this type of sport more, make healthy use of their free time, keeping them away from vices or violence. For this purpose, first the main variables of execution of the sporting gesture were determined, then a sample of athletes was selected to evaluate, subsequently an evaluation protocol of the biomechanics of the players was generated with coaches using videometry for the determination, evaluation and biomechanical improvement of the quality of the sporting gesture of the discipline of interest. Finally, with coaches and athletes, the qualitative and quantitative information obtained will be analyzed, to evaluate the kinematics of volleyball and propose improvements in the execution of movements.

A 3D approach to model the taper of irregular tree stems: making plots biomass estimates comparable in tropical forests.

In tropical forests, the high proportion of trees showing irregularities at the stem base complicates forest monitoring. For example, in the presence of buttresses, the height of the point of measurement (HPOM ) of the stem diameter (DPOM ) is raised from 1.3 m, the standard breast height, up to a regular part of the stem. While DPOM is the most important predictor for tree aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates, the lack of harmonized HPOM for irregular trees in forest inventory increases the uncertainty in plot-level AGB stock and stock change estimates. In this study, we gathered an original non-destructive three-dimensional (3D) data set collected with terrestrial laser scanning and close range terrestrial photogrammetry tools in three sites in central Africa. For the 228 irregularly shaped stems sampled, we developed a set of taper models to harmonize HPOM by predicting the equivalent diameter at breast height (DBH') from a DPOM measured at any height. We analyzed the effect of using DBH' on tree-level and plot-level AGB estimates. To do so, we used destructive AGB data for 140 trees and forest inventory data from eight 1-ha plots in the Republic of Congo. Our results showed that our best simple taper model predicts DBH' with a relative mean absolute error of 3.7% (R2 = 0.98) over a wide DPOM range of 17-249 cm. Based on destructive AGB data, we found that the AGB allometric model calibrated with harmonized HPOM data was more accurate than the conventional local and pantropical models. At the plot level, the comparison of AGB stock estimates with and without HPOM harmonization showed an increasing divergence with the increasing share of irregular stems (up to -15%). The harmonization procedure developed in this study could be implemented as a standard practice for AGB monitoring in tropical forests as no additional forest inventory measurements is required. This would probably lead to important revisions of the AGB stock estimates in regions having a large number of irregular tree stems and increase their carbon sink estimates. The growing use of three-dimensional (3D) data offers new opportunities to extend our approach and further develop general taper models in other tropical regions.

Selected Aspects of Crisis Management with the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) on the Example of a Traffic Disaster

Purpose: The theoretical aim of this study was to present the impact of modern technologies on the improvement of the effectiveness of process activ- ities (documenting) at the site of a communication disaster. On the other hand, the utilitarian goal was to present the improvement of the organization of documenting a mass incident with the use of drones and photogrammetry tools. Design and methods: As part of the exercise consisting of a simulation of a communication disaster, the activities were documented using the func - tionality of unmanned aerial vehicles which interact with an IT system (Pix4D application). The characteristic drone models which can be used in the monitoring of a disaster site were presented. The discussed research approach describes the methods used to perform drone flights and to what extent the photogrammetric method of processing digital images obtained from drones was used. The issue of field measurements (control points, control lines), the purpose of which was to determine the accuracy of mapping and matching to the coordinate system, was discussed. Results: As part of the research, images were captured and taken with the use of UAVs and IT systems, which were collated and compared with the results of measurements from the visual inspection of the disaster site, performed in a traditional manner by the representatives of the procedural entity. A comparative analysis of the collected research material leading to a comparison of the work results captured by means of the traditional procedural forms with the methods and techniques of modern technologies (drone with the Pix4D Cloud application) allows for the following conclusions to be drawn. For short measuring sections (up to 15 meters), the measurement accuracy of the two methods differs by about 1.5%. For longer measuring sections (up to 100 m), the measurement error is approx. 2.3%. Conclusions: In case of the UAV method and the application Pix4D Cloud, the sources of measurement errors should be seen in the accuracy of rendering of the details of the model (the quality of imaging) and the ability to use this application. On the other hand, when using the police method, in which the measurement trolley is the measuring tool, the sources of error should be seen in the uneven terrain, the obstacles in the terrain, and the measurement error of the tool itself (the trolley). The innovation of the project to use UAVs certainly gains importance especially in a terrain with limited accessibility, i.e. in hilly and mountainous terrain, at road intersections or forks. Keywords: communication disaster, modern technologies, crisis management Article type: preliminary report

Creating a 3D Model of the Existing Historical Topographic Object Based on Low-Level Aerial Imagery

The aim of the research was to create 3D cartographic visualization based on various sources and data types of an existing historical topographic object. The authors will present the stages of the research for the historical windmill located in Poland. The most recent surveying methods, such as GNSS method, low-level aerial photogrammetry and advanced IT tools, including computer software, will be applied for this purpose. The sequence of research procedures adopted by the authors of this article allowed for the creation of a 3D model of the tested windmill and its implementation into the Internet environment. This allowed to increase the cartographic range of spatial information. In addition, the research results allow for the extension of research in the field of history and can be the basis for their implementation.

PRELIMINARY STUDIES TO VALUE ENHANCEMENT OF THE OLD CITADEL IN ORIA, ALMERIA, SPAIN

Abstract. During the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, the alcazaba of Oria (Old citadel) was considered one of the most outstanding medieval defensive ensembles in the province of Almeria. This defensive complex, located in the Almanzora Valley at an altitude of over a thousand metres, was built around the 12th-14th centuries and has been registered as an Asset of Cultural Interest since 1985. Nevertheless, unfortunate decisions to intervene in the monument and lack of maintenance facilitated the loss of most of its wall, which had been preserved until the twentieth century. Despite the critical situation of the complex, two sections of the rammed-earth wall are currently identified as standing. This study represents an opportunity to broaden the knowledge of this relevant wall structure and the characterisation of the rammed-earth reinforced wall with lime mortar layers. As a preliminary step towards the rammed-earth walls analysis, the graphic representation of wall elevations by photogrammetry tools is proposed. This technique allows to graphically define the morphology of the rammed-earth wall, to perform its typological analysis and constructive characterisation; and furthermore, to evaluate the state of constructive elements conservation by means of the identification of its damages. The information and results obtained will allow to establish the appropriate laboratory tests for the rammed-earth materials characterisation and to define a report that justifies the inexcusable need to consolidate and preserve them.

Leveraging historical aerial photographs and digital photogrammetry techniques for landslide investigation—a practical perspective

Aerial photography has been extensively used for civil engineering applications for more than a century. The availability of digital photogrammetry tools has allowed for aircraft, UAV, and ground-based digital photogrammetry to become a reliable and standard tool for landslide management. Digital photographs and digitized historic aerial photos can be used to develop digital surface elevation models. This technical note presents a recent example of the use of historical aerial photographs in combination with modern remote sensing techniques and digital photogrammetry tools. The note provides valuable insights into landslide kinematics and evolution of the Chin Coulee landslide in southern Alberta, Canada. Conventional aerial photo interpretation allowed for a qualitative understanding of landslide feature evolution as a response to external factors (road construction and reservoir infilling at the toe of the landslide). More importantly, topographic changes were quantified through change detection techniques between topographic surfaces derived from historical photographs and a ground-based laser scanner. The results from change detection allowed to confirm the kinematics of the Chin Coulee landslide as a compound slide, an assumption which was previously based on limited deformation measurements. Furthermore, the results helped define the boundary between the active wedge of the landslide moving downslope as it pushes the passive wedge into the reservoir. Although challenges remain regarding the aggregation of datasets with different resolutions, this note demonstrates the valid practical application of this approach for landslide assessment and management.

Light interception in experimental forests affected by tree diversity and structural complexity of dominant canopy

Biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning in forests by, for example, enhancing growth and altering the forest structure towards greater complexity with cascading effects on other processes and trophic levels. Complexity in forest canopy could enhance light interception and form a link between diversity and productivity in polyculture forests, but the effect of canopy structure on light interception is rarely directly measured.We modelled the canopy surface structure of a tree diversity experiment by photographing it using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and combining the photos into a digital elevation model with photogrammetry tools. We analysed the effects of tree diversity and functional diversity on canopy structural complexity and light interception with a structural equation model.Our results show that: a) increased structural complexity of the canopy reduces light interception, whereas b) tree diversity increases the structural complexity of the canopy, and has a dual impact on light interception. Tree diversity decreased light interception through the structural complexity of the canopy but increased it probably through canopy packing and crown complementarity. However, the effects of both tree diversity and structural complexity of canopy were smaller than the effect of the functional identities of the tree species, especially the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees.We conclude that more complexity in canopy structure can be gained through increased tree diversity, but complex canopy structure does not increase light interception in young forests.

An in situ approach for measuring biogeochemical fluxes in structurally complex benthic communities

Abstract The exchange of energy and nutrients are integral components of ecological functions of benthic shallow‐water ecosystems and are directly dependent on in situ environmental conditions. Traditional laboratory experiments cannot account for the multidimensionality of interacting processes when assessing metabolic rates and biogeochemical fluxes of structurally complex benthic communities. Current in situ chamber systems are expensive, limited in their functionality and the deployment is often restricted to planar habitats (e.g. sediments or seagrass meadows) only. To overcome these constraints, we describe a protocol to build and use non‐invasive, cost‐effective and easy to handle in situ incubation chambers that provide reproducible measurements of biogeochemical processes in simple and structurally complex benthic shallow‐water communities. Photogrammetry tools account for the structural complexity of benthic communities, enabling to calculate accurate community fluxes. We tested the performance of the system in laboratory assays and various benthic habitats (i.e. algae growing on rock, coral assemblages, sediments and seagrass meadows). In addition, we estimated community budgets of photosynthesis and respiration by corals, rock with algae and carbonate sediments, which were subsequently compared to budgets extrapolated from conventional ex situ single‐organism incubations. The tests highlight the transparency (>90% light transmission) of the chambers and minimal water exchange with the surrounding medium on most substrates. Linear dissolved oxygen fluxes in dependence to incubation time showed sufficient mixing of the water by circulation pumps and no organismal stress response. The comparison to single‐organism incubations showed that ex situ measurements might overestimate community‐wide net primary production and underestimate respiration and gross photosynthesis by 20%–90%. The proposed protocol overcomes the paucity of observational and manipulative studies that can be performed in in situ native habitats, thus producing widely applicable and realistic assessments on the community level. Importantly, the tool provides a standardized approach to compare community functions across a wide range of benthic habitats. We identify multiple experimental strategies, including the manipulation of stressors/factors, and discuss how the method may be implemented in a variety of aquatic studies.

Validation of Pleiades Tri-Stereo DSM in Urban Areas

We present an accurate digital surface model (DSM) derived from high-resolution Pleiades-1B 0.5 m panchromatic tri-stereo images, covering an area of 400 km2 over the Athens Metropolitan Area. Remote sensing and photogrammetry tools were applied, resulting in a 1 m × 1 m posting DSM over the study area. The accuracy of the produced DSM was evaluated against measured elevations by a differential Global Positioning System (d-GPS) and a reference DSM provided by the National Cadaster and Mapping Agency S.A. Different combinations of stereo and tri-stereo images were used and tested on the quality of the produced DSM. Results revealed that the DSM produced by the tri-stereo analysis has a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.17 m in elevation, which lies within the best reported in the literature. On the other hand, DSMs derived by standard analysis of stereo-pairs from the same sensor were found to perform worse. Line profile data showed similar patterns between the reference and produced DSM. Pleiades tri-stereo high-quality DSM products have the necessary accuracy to support applications in the domains of urban planning, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, hydrological modelling, and natural hazards, being an important input for simulation models and morphological analysis at local scales.

Vegetation as the Bioindicator of Human-induced Degradation in Karst Landscape: Case Study of Waste-filled Dolines

Mismanagement practices, such as unsustainable waste disposal, created many degraded sites. In karst landscapes, old uncontrolled landfills are often located in dolines (sinkholes). Buried waste material in dolines represents degradation of landform, habitats and a potential danger of groundwater pollution. Buried waste provides heterogeneous ecological conditions on the surface, thus plant communities or individual plant species that developed on the surface of landfills can be used as a bioindicators of waste-filled doline sites and therefore indicators of land degradation. We aimed to discover the potential of vegetation to detect unknown locations of old dump-sites in suffusion dolines in Logasko polje (Dinaric Karst, Slovenia), either by plant communities or by plant species. We aimed to ascertain whether vegetation can indicate the dumping period by estimation of community succession stage. Locations and the age of waste-filled dolines (doline-dumps) were preliminary identified by a historical landscape study. Thus, we used time series of aerial photographs and digital photogrammetry tools for 3D modelling of historical terrain. Ecological evaluation was based on sampling the floristic composition of plots (5x5 m). We analysed ecological conditions by Ellenberg bioindicator values, structure by life history traits and naturalness by hemerobic levels of plants. We studied in detail 30 up to 50-years-old waste-filled dolines that are interspersed by dry and mesic grasslands. Ecological evaluation demonstrated that the main driver of ecological diversity at doline-dumps is the time at which the doline was backfilled and succession started. Annual and eutrophic communities dominate the youngest doline-dumps, middle aged doline-dumps are covered by nitrophilous perennial forbs and, finally, communities developed towards mesic grassland. We conclude that plant communities in combination with diagnostic plant species can be used as a bioindicators of doline-dumps in agricultural landscape of Logasko polje and can therefore indicate the sites of potential groundwater pollution sources but not the type of long-time buried waste. Key words: suffusion dolines, plant communities, waste dumping, Ellenberg indicator values, polje.

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAMMETRY, CODED TARGET AND PLENOPTIC TECHNOLOGY: A SET OF TOOLS FOR MONITORING RED CORAL IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ”PERFECT” PROJECT

Abstract. PErfECT "Photogrammetry, gEnetic, Ecology for red coral ConservaTion" is a project leaded by the Laboratoire des Sciences de lInformation et des Systmes (LSIS - UMR 7296 CNRS) from the Aix-Marseille University (France) in collaboration with the Spanish National Agency for Scientific Research (CSIC, Spain). The main objective of the project is to develop innovative Tools for the conservation of the Mediterranean red coral, Corallium rubrum. PErfECT was funded by the Total Fundation. The adaptation of digital photogrammetric techniques for use in submarine is rapidly increasing in recent years. In fact, these techniques are particularly well suited for use in underwater environments. PErfECT developed different photogrammetry tools to enhance the red coral population surveys based in: (i) automatic orientation on coded quadrats, (ii) use of NPR (Non Photo realistic Rendering) techniques, (iii) the calculation of distances between colonies within local populations and finally (iv) the use of plenoptic approaches in underwater conditions.

Discrete fracture network based drift stability at the Éléonore mine

Photogrammetry tools were used to characterise the rock mass structural regime at selected mining drifts at the Éléonore underground mine in Canada. This information was used to provide the input data for generating a series of discrete fracture networks (DFN) models. The generated DFN models were subsequently used to investigate the creation of rock wedges along the drifts that may impact the stability of the excavations. The impact of the choice of employed DFN model on the analysis was investigated with reference to the stability of excavations. A series of parametric analyses demonstrated the sensitivity of the model to variations in the properties of the structural regime. The benefits of using stochastic modelling to capture the inherent variability are reviewed.

Towards increased BIM usage for existing building interventions

Purpose – Building information modeling (BIM) is most often used for the construction of new buildings. By using BIM in such projects, collaboration among stakeholders in an architecture, engineering and construction project is improved. To even further improve collaboration, there is a move toward the production and usage of BIM standards in various countries. These are typically national documents, including guides, protocols, and mandatory regulations, that introduce guidelines about what information should be exchanged at what time between which partners and in what formats. If a nation or a construction team agrees on these guidelines, improved collaboration can come about on top of the collaboration benefits induced by the mere usage of BIM. This scenario might also be targeted for interventions in existing buildings. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the authors investigate the general content and usage of existing BIM standards for new constructions, describing specifications about BIM deliverable documents, modeling, and collaboration procedures. The authors suggest to what extent the content in the BIM standards can also be used for interventions in existing buildings. These suggestions rely heavily on literature study, supported by on-site use case experiences. Findings – From this research, the authors can conclude that the existing standards give a solid basis for BIM collaboration in existing building interventions, but that they need to be extended in order to be of better use in any intervention project in an existing building. This extension should happen at: data modeling level: other kinds of data formats need to be considered, coming from terrestrial laser scanning and automatic digital photogrammetry tools; at data exchange level: exchange requirements should take explicit statements about modeling tolerances and levels of (un)certainty; and at process modeling level: business process models should include information exchange processes from the very start of the building survey (BIM→facility management→BIM or regular audit). Originality/value – BIM environments are not often used to document existing buildings or interventions in existing buildings. The authors propose to improve the situation by using BIM standards and/or guidelines, and the authors give an initial overview of components that should be included in such a standard and/or guideline.