Fig. 1 - Photogram metric images acquisition in the 
cloister of the Olivetani Monastry. 
• the architecture historian with a constructive 
scheme in order to go back to the material 
extraction techniques, to the method of 
construction and to the analysis of the exsisting 
volumes; 
• the expert of history of art with a tridimensional 
analysis of shapes for a catalogue of typologies; 
Fig. 2 - Stereopairs of b&w metric images (UMK 
10/1318, photo-scale 1:80). 
• the expert of structures with the possibility of 
reconstruct, a posteriori, the ioads direction, or 
to carry out the static finite elements tests; 
• the building refurbishment designer with a 
metric spatial base where to execute the 
structural and architectural rehabilitation project. 
For a complete analysis, and an reliable simulation 
of lying loads, is obviously necessary to measure all 
the volumes and the masonry on the outline, 
including the extrados surfaces and the materials 
used for the filling. A great number of this 
investigations are, obviously, destructive ad do not 
concern particularly the topic proposed in this study. 
1.3 Photogrammetric survey 
During a short data acqusition campaign, lasted 
some days, with the use of two photogrammetric 
operators and three collaborators, with no previous 
specialized experience, have been acquired metric 
photographs, and topographic networks for some 
ten vault structures of the most diverse volumetric 
configuration. The time required for the completion 
of on site operations was, even in the presence of 
not well prepared personnel, very short, ranging 
from 30 to 90 minutes for a single element. This 
rapidity makes, as known, close range 
photogrammetry a low cost measurement method, 
when the main aim is metric images filing. When it is 
possible to reduce the photo-scale, reducing the 
attainable accuracy in stereo plotting, 
photogrammetric systems are characterised by 
rapidity and economy, which are unlikely to be 
attained with other metric analysis methods. 
Digital photogrammetry, in spite of some still 
existing limitations, allows a much broader diffusion 
of non-metric cameras. 
Procedures have been developed for years on 
analytical systems and are based essentially on 
autocalibration of interior orientation and on the use 
of Direct Linear Transformation; using this 
geometrical schemes in the generation of models 
are attained, at close range and on subjects 
volumetrically weil configured, medium-high quality 
results. The advantages, during data acquisition, are 
remarkable but the plotting quality falls in the usual