Tower of Belém (Lisbon)–Status Quo 3D Documentation and Material Origin Determination

A groundbreaking high-resolution 3D model of the Tower of Belém, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site and Lisbon's second most visited monument, has been created using terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry. This digital representation encompasses over 6.2 billion 3D points, providing an unprecedented documentation of the tower's interior and exterior. Additionally, hyperspectral imaging and spectroradiometry were employed to identify the quarries responsible for the stone used in its construction. The study not only offers a comprehensive assessment of the tower's current state but also serves as a potential guide for future conservation efforts or even reconstruction in the event of another catastrophic event, such as the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami.

Redweik, P., de Sanjosé Blasco, J. J., Sánchez-Fernández, M., Atkinson, A. D., & Martínez Corrales, L. F. (2020). Tower of Belém (Lisbon)–Status Quo 3D Documentation and Material Origin Determination. Sensors, 20(8), 2355. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20082355