Modern Surveying Technology: availability and suitability for Heritage Building Surveying and Heritage Building Information Models (HerBIM)

ABSTRACT: Surveying technology been used for the measurement and preservation of herit-age buildings. With the recent advances in surveying much new technology is now available for extensive surveys of the built environment in general, and heritage buildings in particular. These technologies include laser scanning, digital terrestrial photogrammetry, Remote Sensing Satel-lites (Lidar), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) ,Digital Aerial Photogrammetry, and Global Positioning Systems, in addition to Robotic total stations and other surveying technology. This paper reviews and evaluates the various modern surveying technologies availability and suitability, and their economy for Heritage building surveys, maintenance and preservation with particular reference to Laser Scanning and Building Information Models (BIM). Laser Scanning combined with digital terrestrial photogrammetry data also contains the passive colour (prima-ry) of the material, as different surfaces reflect different laser light intensity (I).This yields a number of applications in addition to building surveys and building conservation. BIM is the process of creating and managing building data from the conceptual design stages through to demolition. It is a digital three-dimensional, real-time, dynamic building manage-ment system which can increase productivity and improve quality throughout building design, construction, use, maintenance and demolition. The system inter-connects the spatial building data to all construction materials, processes, use and maintenance throughout its functional life to demolition, which can then be shared by all parties. In the UK the BIM project is well under-way for government contracts £50 million and over. In particular the paper focuses on the use of surveying technology in the creation of Point Clouds and Digital Surface Models (DSM) and its integration into Heritage Buildings Information Models (HerBIM) for building maintenance, and preservation through digital documentation. Furthermore HerBIM should enable us to form Virtual Museums (HerVM) for national and international heritage sites for everyone to see, learn and enjoy.