Digital Photogrammetry, Gpr and Finite Elements in Heritage Documentation: Geometry and Structural Damages

This paper shows a multidisciplinary approach to heritage documentation involving Close Range Photogrammetry and Ground Penetrating Radar techniques, as well as the development of finite elements based structural models. The geometric shape, the building material homogeneity and the current damages and its causes are obtained. The usefulness of Close Range Photogrammetry in the accurate 3D modelling and cracks detection and mapping is analyzed. Further, a non destructive test through GPR is employed for the interior material homogeneity analysis and zones description. For both techniques, the methodology followed for data collection and data processing aimed at minimisation of time consuming and optimisation of results is described in detail. Resulting information related to the whole bridge geometry is taken as basis to develop different numeric models applying the finite elements method (FEM). This analysis involves different load hypothesis in order to obtain a stress distribution compatible with the detected damages which allows identifying likely causes of them.