A 3D topographic network for the study and maintenance of the Insula III of Herculaneum

In the last years 3D data-acquisition techniques have been used to create virtual 3D objects for different purposes. Laser scanner and aerial or close-range photogrammetry have become the new basic tools of many experts and professionals in the field of the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage. The paper deals with the implementation of a 3D network for the Insula III of Herculaneum, an area of more than 4.000 m
²
, carried out in the framework of the VESUVIANA project coordinated by the University of Bologna. This topographical grid, realized in only 3 weeks of work on field, has been used to geo-reference and scale the images taken during an accurate photographical campaign of the painted and decorated walls of the Insula. A traditional survey approach, done using a total station to rectify the images, would have required a long time-consuming process to capture points data for the whole area of the Insula. The integration of the scans with the high-resolution images made possible to document and evaluate quickly the state of art and conservation of the decorated walls. In the future it will be possible to update this archive by adding geo-referenced maps, drawings and photos related to the Insula. This 3D data-collection will be useful for the monitoring and maintenance the archaeological area and to plan interventions of restoration.