Site-scale geometry
Record relationships between visible structures and accessible site areas.
Heritage & Archaeology
Document heritage sites with geometry and visual context.
Plan portable spatial capture for buildings, site layouts, and accessible architectural features. Choose the required detail and supplementary recording methods around the conservation or research question.
The project challenge
Match the capture scale to the feature being studied.
A site-wide record, a building elevation, and a small artifact demand different levels of detail. Define the smallest features that must be resolved and review representative data before choosing the capture approach.
Useful deliverables
Define the record your team needs.
Visual reference
Retain imagery and colorized spatial context for documentation and review.
Reusable records
Deliver dated files with coordinate, coverage, and processing notes for future research.
From planning to handover
A workflow for heritage & archaeology.
- 01
Define the research scope
Agree extent, required detail, access, and handling restrictions.
- 02
Plan complementary capture
Select routes and any close-range recording needed for finer features.
- 03
Process and inspect
Review geometry, color, alignment, and coverage at the intended scale.
- 04
Archive with context
Keep source records, outputs, dates, references, and limitations together.
Project requirements
Agree these requirements before capture.
- Required detail. Test whether the smallest relevant features are represented adequately.
- Access and conservation. Plan work around permissions, fragile surfaces, and site procedures.
- Appearance. Assess lighting and surface materials when visual context is important.
- Repeatability of the record. Keep reference information and processing notes for future comparisons.
Relevant systems
Choose around the capture task.
Cobra S & X
Evaluate LiDAR geometry and multi-view camera inputs for accessible architectural and site documentation.
Explore Cobra S & X →Pentra
Consider broad coverage and portability for connected indoor and outdoor site areas.
Explore Pentra →Staris
Assess directional capture and stated range conditions for suitable larger structures or outdoor areas.
Explore Staris →Evaluate the selected hardware and processing configuration using the project’s environment, required detail, and deliverables.
Related reading and resources
Explore the evidence and supporting workflow.
Cobra architectural capture
Inspect actual field examples and processed surfaces.
Explore Cobra architectural capture →Geometry and model outputs
Choose suitable representations for documentation and downstream work.
Explore Geometry and model outputs →Archive formats
Confirm software support and required exchange formats.
Explore Archive formats →Heritage & Archaeology questions
Is a site scanner suitable for every artifact?
Evaluate the required feature size, surface, and accuracy first. Small or fine-detail objects may need a dedicated close-range capture method.
Can scans support condition comparison over time?
Plan a consistent reference, comparable coverage, and the required resolution. Record differences in capture and processing when interpreting changes.