PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SOLUTIONS FOR 3D MODELING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES IN REMOTE AREAS

Abstract. The realistic possibility of using non-metric digital cameras to achieve reliable 3D models has eased the application of photogrammetry in different domains. Documentation, conservation and dissemination of the Cultural Heritage (CH) can be obtained and implemented through virtual copies and replicas. Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry has widely proven its impressive potential for image-based 3D reconstruction resulting in great 3D point clouds’ acquisitions but at minimal cost. Images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can be also processed within SfM pipeline to obtain point cloud of Cultural Heritage sites in remote regions. Both aerial and terrestrial images can be integrated to obtain a more complete 3D. In this paper, the application of SfM photogrammetry for surveying of the Ziggurat Chogha Zanbil in Iran is presented. Here point clouds have been derived from oblique and nadir photos captured from UAV as well as terrestrial photos. The obtained four point clouds have been compared on the basis of different techniques to highlight differences among them.