Malecón and other heritage properties

Malecón and other heritage properties- Cuba

Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya i l‘Oficina de l’Historiador de Cuba | La Habana - Cuba | November 2006

Make a terrestrial laser scanner survey to different heritage buildings: El Malecón, la Catedral and its square, el Capitoli, la Plaça Vella i l’Església de Sant Francesc d’Assís. Once all buildings and sector scanning were made, a post process was done to pursue the delivering of building high resolution surveys.

Napoleonic Hall, Havana, Cuba

Direcció de Justícia Global i Cooperació Internacional del Ajuntament de Barcelona i l‘Oficina de l’Historiador de Cuba | La Habana - Cuba | November 2014 

Main utility results

As examples of the work carried out, the following results have been produced:

1 Documented basis of the architectural and urban elements.

The three-dimensional survey of the element with the laser scanner, and the production of a 3D point cloud model of high metric precision and scientific rigour (error measurement of +/- 2 cm at 100 metres from data collection).  It is a digital 3D point cloud that allows visualisation from different points of view, taking measurements, interactive navigation routes, taking images of real perspectives or of spaces in height. It can also produce orthogonal images at different scales according to the project in raised plan and high precision section.

This model can incorporate false colour, to differentiate architectural elements, materials, or types of elements added to the building.  However, it is in the incorporation of photographic colour and real texture where the most spectacular results can be appreciated due to their affinity with architectural reality.

This structure of the model consists of ordering and providing relationships to each of the parts that make up the architectural element, and configure its visualisation at different scales in relation to the architectural functional programme, historical characteristics, or types of elements that make it up. At the urban scale, segmentation can be ordered by orientation, or on the basis of external information such as, for example, types of monument, location, cadastral parceling or others. 

2 Scientific, technical and social dissemination of the monument

The production of a scientific digital model facilitates the dissemination of the building through the network and its digital exploration and exploration, favours the improvement of knowledge, the rigour towards reality and also the understanding of its structural architectural composition being one of the main values of study and approach to the architectural heritage as well as enhancing its historical and patrimonial value. 

Navigation on the model in its current state and visualisation from different unique points of view. Virtual recreation of scenarios and interactive contents aimed at describing the historical events or the transformation experienced.  

This base makes it possible to build shared documents on a single base, a set of technical knowledge approached from different disciplines (archaeology, history, conservation of monuments, architectural intervention...) in such a way that it constitutes an excellent base for shared work. It also makes it possible to link different databases of historical archives, or other study documents.

3 Analysis   

Recognition of the current state of the building and its monitoring over time. Analysis of the state of the elements, of the materials, approach to the recognition of pathologies, identification of deformations, appearance of cracks, among others. Examples include identifying the stratigraphic study of façades, the deterioration of façade surfaces (erosion, corrosion, vegetation index, etc.), evolution of pathologies (changes in volume or material), classification of façade materials, geometric inspection..

4 Simulation

There are different analysis and simulation softwares of the current state of the building that allow checking its characteristics and solidity or those related to energy performance, among others. The simulation tools for lighting, thermal characteristics, ventilation and structural simulation, among others stand out.