Planning for terrestrial laser scanning: Methods for optimal sets of locations in architectural sites

Abstract

The scanning of heritage sites is usually performed using Terrestrial Laser Scanners. A correct planning for architectural surveys is important to obtain a complete registration of the object of interest in the most efficient conditions. A good planning guarantees minimum time and computational costs, complete registration and maximum quality. To ensure a correct registration of the scans, it is advisable to design a connected itinerary of stations visible between them. In this work, two different techniques are applied to the interior and the exterior area of the Church of Ognisanti, placed in Cuti, Italy. The implemented algorithms, based on the Art Gallery Problem and Evolutionary Computation Techniques, help to identify optimal sets of locations from where to execute the data acquisition. A complete architectural survey is executed selecting the locations obtained through the application of optimization techniques. The effectiveness of these methods are analysed and compared versus professional criteria.