A New Approach for Documentation, Conservation and Preservation of the Monolithic Statues in San Agustín as Pilot for Outdoor Cultural Heritage Documentation in Colombia

A new approach integrating advanced technologies, particularly 3D modeling, has been successfully applied to document, conserve, and preserve the monolithic statues at San Agustín Archaeological Park in Colombia. The study, conducted by the Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia (ICANH), utilized infrared structured-light (SL) and phase shift (PS) laser scanning technologies to create detailed 3D models of 66 sculptures. While the initial phase identified areas for improvement, such as increasing mesh detail for more precise conservation efforts, it established a robust methodology that can serve as a pilot model for other heritage sites in Colombia. The findings highlight the potential and challenges of using these technologies for outdoor cultural heritage documentation, offering valuable insights for future preservation projects.

Estela, A., & Hamacher, J. (2014). A New Approach for Documentation, Conservation and Preservation of the Monolithic Statues in San Agustín as Pilot for Outdoor Cultural Heritage Documentation in Colombia. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XL-5, 225–229. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-xl-5-225-2014