3D Model of Al Zubarah Fortress in Qatar - Terrestrial Laser Scanning vs. Dense Image Matching

Terrestrial laser scanning offers superior geometric accuracy for 3D documentation of historical structures compared to dense image matching techniques. A study comparing both methods at Al Zubarah Fortress, a restored 20th-century Arabic fortress in Qatar, found that laser scanning achieved precision within 1-2 cm, while photogrammetric approaches using open-source and low-cost software could not match this level of detail. The research, conducted as part of the Qatar Islamic Archaeology and Heritage Project, generated high-resolution point clouds and surface models from both techniques, supporting detailed restoration efforts by providing precise 2D/3D documentation.

Kersten, T., Mechelke, K., & Maziull, L. (2015). 3D MODEL OF AL ZUBARAH FORTRESS IN QATAR - TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING VS. DENSE IMAGE MATCHING. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XL-5/W4, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-xl-5-w4-1-2015