The science and technique of obtaining reliable measurements and 3D models from overlapping photographs — the standard method for heritage surface documentation at scale.

Structure from Motion

The photogrammetric algorithm that reconstructs 3D geometry from a set of overlapping 2D photographs by tracking common feature points across images.

Ground Control Points

Surveyed reference targets placed in the scene before photogrammetry or drone survey, used to scale and georeference the output to real-world coordinates.

Orthophoto

A geometrically corrected aerial or terrestrial photograph in which scale is uniform throughout, suitable for precise measurement — unlike a perspective photograph.

Ground Sampling Distance

The size in real-world units (typically cm/px) represented by one pixel in a drone or aerial image — the primary metric for spatial resolution in drone survey.

Point Cloud

A set of millions of data points in 3D space, each representing a measured location on a surface — the primary output of laser scanning and dense photogrammetry.

Drone Survey

The use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying a camera or sensor to capture data for mapping, photogrammetry or inspection — now standard for inaccessible heritage areas.

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Photogrammetry

Guides (18)

Heritage Documentation: A Complete Guide to Recording Historic Buildings and Sites

Photogrammetry for Heritage Conservation: Methods, Workflow, Software and Best Practices

Drone Survey for Temple Documentation in India: DGCA Rules, Methods and Workflows

Reality Capture vs Traditional Survey for Heritage: When to Use Which

Ground Control Points (GCPs) in Drone Survey: Accuracy, Placement and DGCA Compliance for Heritage Sites

3D Modelling for Heritage Documentation: Methods, Software and Outputs

Archaeological Survey Methods and Digital Documentation: A Practical Guide for India

AI and Machine Learning in Heritage Documentation: What Actually Works

Measured Drawing and As-Built Documentation for Heritage Buildings

Agisoft Metashape for Heritage Photogrammetry: Complete Workflow Guide

Terrestrial Laser Scanning vs Photogrammetry for Heritage: Which to Choose?

RTK and PPK Drone Survey vs Ground Control Points for Heritage Documentation

Field Photography Protocol for Heritage Photogrammetry

Point Cloud Registration and Cleaning in CloudCompare: A Heritage Workflow

Troubleshooting Heritage Photogrammetry: Doming, Holes, Reflective and Repetitive Surfaces

RealityCapture for Heritage Photogrammetry: Complete Workflow

From Orthophoto to Measured Drawing: Producing Heritage Elevations in CAD

Rectified Photography: Low-Cost Heritage Facade Documentation

Glossary Terms (7)