High Art Revisited: A Photogrammetric Approach

A photogrammetric technique was developed to monitor a painted heritage ceiling for evidence of cracking and flaking. A rig with up to four miniature cameras with lighting was raised 8m on a telescopic mast to within 60cm of the ceiling. Sets of images were analysed by a multiview stereo technique to extract point clouds from which a 3D representation of the surface could be obtained. The factor limiting the performance of the system was found to be not image processing but the mechanical characteristics of the telescopic mast.