INTERPRETATION OF TOPOGRAPHIC DATA FROM "SHAPE FROM SHADING" METHOD, APPLICATION IN VILLAGARCÍA DE CAMPOS CASTLE

Abstract. Generating digital products allowing the assessment and interpretation of Cultural Heritage is a key task in conservation processes. Thus a variety of (Shape from X) methods have been developed through photogrammetry with that aim in mind, which in the digital era widen their scope on account of independence of physical resources as well as high geometrical and radiometric qualities of their results. A method based on virtual 3D reconstruction of objects (scenarios) and the further 2.5 D maps generation by means of the Shape from Shading method for simulating the reflectance properties of surfaces within 2D images is being proposed. This alternative, seldom used when studying Urban-Architectural Heritage, is aimed at overcoming inadequacies when analyzing surfaces from the bi-dimentional view -or the three-dimensional one itself- over areas with little variations in elevation (relevant to urbanarchitectural context).

The methodology is applied to Villagarcía de Campo Castle, Spain, stemming from the reconstruction of the property by the General Photogrammetry Method until achieving "Images by Reflectance Transformation", and ending by interpreting its topography for the inspection of un-documented historical traces.