Geomatic Sensors for Heritage Documentation: A Meta-Analysis of the Scientific Literature

Abstract

This review paper aims to provide a meta-analysis of the scientific literature for heritage documentation and monitoring using geo-information sensors. The study initially introduces the main types of geomatic sensors that are currently widely used for heritage studies. Although the list provided here is indicative rather than exhaustive, it provides a general overview of the variety of sensors used for different observation scales. The study next focuses on the existing literature, based on published documents. Targeted queries were implemented to the Scopus database to extract the relevant information. Filtering was then applied to the results so as to limit the analysis on the specific thematic sub-domains that is applied for heritage documentation and monitoring. These domains include, among other close-range and underwater photogrammetry, Terrestrial Laser Scanner, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles platforms, and satellite observations. In total, more than 12,000 documents were further elaborated. The overall findings are summarized and presented here, providing further insights into the current status of the domain.