ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some important three-dimensional (3D) documentation requirements and specifications, and the actual surveying and 3D modeling methodologies, and provides an in-depth look at the photogrammetric approach for accurate and detail reconstruction of objects and sites. It also reviews the issues related to reality-based methods for large and complex site surveying and modeling, with the actual digital techniques and sensors. The chapter describes the photogrammetric approach with all the steps of the 3D documentation pipeline and the open research issues in image-based modeling. Metric 3D documentation and modeling of scenes or objects should be intended as the entire procedure that starts with the surveying and data acquisition, data processing and 3D information generation, visualization and preservation for uses like conservation, education, restoration, and Geographic information system applications. A technique is intended as a scientific procedure to accomplish a specific task while a methodology is a group or combination of techniques and activities combined to achieve a particular task.
