Buildings (Oct 2024)

A Unified Virtual Model for Real-Time Visualization and Diagnosis in Architectural Heritage Conservation

  • Federico Luis del Blanco García,
  • Alejandro Jesús González Cruz,
  • Cristina Amengual Menéndez,
  • David Sanz Arauz,
  • Jose Ramón Aira Zunzunegui,
  • Milagros Palma Crespo,
  • Soledad García Morales,
  • Luis Javier Sánchez-Aparicio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113396
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 11
p. 3396

Abstract

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The aim of this paper is to propose a workflow for the real-time visualization of virtual environments that supports diagnostic tasks in heritage buildings. The approach integrates data from terrestrial laser scanning (3D point clouds and meshes), along with panoramic and thermal images, into a unified virtual model. Additionally, the methodology incorporates several post-processing stages designed to enhance the user experience in visualizing both the building and its associated damage. The methodology was tested on the Medieval Templar Church of Vera Cruz in Segovia, utilizing a combination of visible and infrared data, along with manually prepared damage maps. The project results demonstrate that the use of a hybrid digital model—combining 3D point clouds, polygonal meshes, and panoramic images—is highly effective for real-time rendering, providing detailed visualization while maintaining adaptability for mobile devices with limited computational power.

Keywords