Environmental Impact Assessment of Different Manufacturing Technologies Oriented to Architectonic Recovery and Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Our cultural society has made remarkable advancements in creating digital models that depict the built environment, landscape, and reality. The advent of technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning and drone-based photogrammetry, coupled with sophisticated software capable of processing hundreds of photographs to generate point clouds, has elevated the significance of three-dimensional surveying in documentation and restoration. Point cloud processing and modeling software enable the creation of precise digital replicas of the investigated architecture, which can be scaled down and transformed into physically identical models. Through the export of STL files and the utilization of both subtractive and additive 3D printing technologies, tactile models resembling traditional manually crafted plastics can be obtained. An exemplary study focuses on the Gothic church of Santa Maria Alemanna in Messina, Italy, where laser scanner surveys and 3D prints using various technologies were applied to different parts of the building. The models were produced using a CNC milling machine and a 3D printer for fused deposition modeling. The sustainability of these production technologies was assessed through a Life Cycle Assessment, demonstrating the environmental advantages of additive manufacturing, including the use of materials with high recyclability and lower energy consumption. Additionally, the additive approach helps reduce processing waste.

DECI: A Differential Entropy-Based Compactness Index for Point Clouds Analysis: Method and Potential Applications

“…This technique hinges upon a collection of points in 3D space, capturing intricate details of object surfaces and their spatial arrangement. The acquisition of requisite data to construct point clouds can be achieved through a range of methodologies, encompassing advanced 3D scanners [1,2], laser scanners [3,4], and techniques like tomography [5] and photogrammetry [6]. Point clouds are commonly generated using 3D scanners to capture intricate details of physical objects and environments, making them valuable in fields like industrial design, architecture, medicine, and digital art.…”