LASER SCANNING AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF A LARGE STATUE-EXPERIENCES IN THE COMBINED USE

Cultural heritage applications involve measurements at different possible scales. While photogrammetry and metric surveying techniques can be suitable for archaeological sites and buildings, they present certain disadvantages for smaller and more complex objects such as statues. Laser scanning technology with its automated data capture capabilities is bringing new perspectives and can satisfy most requirements of this type of applications. This paper describes a practical example based on the combined use of digital photogrammetry and laser scanning techniques with an aim to create a geometrically accurate 3D model of the ancient statue of Hermes of Praxiteles, which is housed in the archaeological museum of Olympia in Greece. A comparative evaluation of the two techniques in the data capture and modelling of the statue is discussed and typical results of the models are presented.