Spanish researchers create 3D Romanesque monuments

Washington, May 26 (ANI): Researchers have created virtual, full colour plans in 3D of five churches in the Merindad de Aguilar de Campoo, a region between Cantabria, Palencia and Burgos which boasts the highest number of Romanesque monuments in the world.

Spanish researchers from the Cartif Foundation and the University of Valladolid, created three-dimensional plans with colour images of historical and artistic places of interest.

The data is recorded by laser scanners that take the maximum number of geometric measurements from a minimum number of positions.

"This ensures that accuracy is maintained, whilst also reducing the time spent on field work, because generally more shots are usually taken than are needed", comments the researcher, who also explains that a three-dimensional model of the monument is produced "with millimetric accuracy, in comparison to the centimetric nature of conventional 2D templates".

The researchers then use two softwares - one that superimposes the colour information of the photographs onto the three-dimensional model, and another that generates the final plans in 3D in a timeframe that is 40% quicker than the traditional method.

Martín-Lerones said that the re-creation of the Palencian church of Valberzoso turned out the best, thanks to its artistic value, state of preservation and accessibility.

"There, it can be observed that by using three-dimensional measurement of a place of cultural interest the result is that the quantity of information captured is thousands of times better than what is obtained from conventional methods, whilst the time spent on field work is reduced by around 75pc", Martín-Lerones points out. (ANI)