Aplicación de la fotogrametría en el levantamiento gráfico de la Iglesia de San José en Elche

Abstract

The church of San José in Elche, in the province of Alicante (Spain), has been declared a Site of Special Cultural Significance. Begun in 1561, the baroque church formed part of the town’s Franciscan convent and now houses the Elche Municipal Library. Despite the uniqueness of this building, no graphic information existed and it was thus deemed necessary for it to be documented. Traditional graphic surveying systems were used, together with more up-to-date and cheaper systems, including direct-intersection photogrammetry. The aim was to determine the reliability of photogrammetry compared with traditional systems used in graphically documenting heritage buildings. A second objective was to produce orthophotos of the church’s exterior to present its textures in true dimensions. The study also aimed to raise awareness of the architectural heritage of our towns through the use of new technologies. The research for this project used analytical methods involving mainly scientific observation and quantitative measurement. The following materials were used: digital cameras, laser meter, laser level, prismless total station, and AutoCAD 2006 and PhotoModeler 6 software. The research produced graphic documentation of the building in its current condition. Photogrammetry was deemed necessary for all surveying of the building, as it is an affordable system that is both fast and easy to use, and extracts detailed information. This study can conclude that results from photogrammetry depend on the scale at which the image is to be shown, as unacceptable errors may result from more distant and less visible areas. It is therefore recommended for all data gathered to be complemented with traditional systems of topography.