Modelling Medieval Vaults: Comparing Digital Surveying Techniques to Enhance our Understanding of Gothic Architecture

Webb, Nicholas ORCID: 0000-0002-5998-1961, Buchanan, Alexandrina ORCID: 0000-0001-9433-9651 and Peterson, John Robert ORCID: 0000-0002-5672-2630 (2016) Modelling Medieval Vaults: Comparing Digital Surveying Techniques to Enhance our Understanding of Gothic Architecture. In: eCAADe 2016: Complexity & Simplicity, 2016-8-24 - 2016-8-26, University of Oulu, Finland.

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Abstract

Surveying tools such as laser scanning and photogrammetry are increasingly accessible, providing opportunities as digital mediators to enhance our understanding of architectural heritage. Here we discuss and compare the use of both techniques as starting points to analyse medieval vaults at two sites in England: Chester Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral. The project is inspired by the work of Robert Willis, a Victorian scholar who hypothesised how medieval vaults were designed and constructed; however, he did not have sufficient survey data to fully prove his theories. We will discuss the accuracy of each digital survey method in relation to our research that occurred at two distinct scales: the overall geometry of vault rib arcs where vault bays were several metres in length and width, as well as more detailed investigations of individual rib profiles where millimetre accuracy is required. We will compare laser scanning with photogrammetry in terms of their methodological and practical applications to architectural heritage in the particular context of medieval vault design, in order to assess the relative merits of each and aid decision-making as to which method should be used in specific circumstances.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Unspecified)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Photogrammetry, laser scanning, point cloud modelling, medieval vaults, digital heritage
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2016 10:44
Last Modified:	26 Aug 2023 18:01
DOI:	10.52842/conf.ecaade.2016.2.493
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3002910