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
