Site:Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, Rome
Project:3D documentation before restoration interventions
Date:2025
Client(s):DF14 restauro
Partner(s):DeltaLab di Simone Gramaglia
In 2025, I contributed to the3D survey and digital documentation of the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassiain Rome, working on behalf ofDF14 Restauroin collaboration withDeltaLab, led by Simone Gramaglia. The project focused on the detailed recording of the chapel dedicated to Pope John Paul II, with the aim ofdocumenting its conservation state prior to planned restorationworks.
This project represents a practical application of methodologies used in Digital Archaeology and cultural heritage documentation, combining multiple technologies to address both geometric complexity and surface analysis.
Project Context
The chapel is characterized by arich decorative systemincluding stuccoes, marble surfaces, and painted elements. While visually impressive, this richness also resulted in significant challenges for digital recording.
Thegeometric complexityof the architecture required tools capable of capturing difficult angles and hard-to-reach areas. At the same time, the painted decoration—including framed artworks—required high radiometric accuracyto ensure proper documentation of materials, colors, and conservation issues.
Methodology: Integrated Survey
To meet these requirements, an integrated survey approach was adopted,combining terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry.
The base geometry of the chapel was captured using aLeica BLK360 G1, which enabled the creation of a detailed point cloud representing the overall structure.
This dataset was complemented by a photogrammetric survey carried out with aCanon EOS R8equipped with a 24 mm lens. This phase ensured the acquisition of high-resolution imagery for accurate texture reconstruction and detailed documentation of surface conditions.
Drone Integration for Complex Areas
Due to the height of the interior space, an additional acquisition phase was required to document upper cornices and surfaces not visible from ground level.
An indoor drone survey was conducted using aDJI Mini 3 Pro, allowing close-range image acquisition in a complex environment with multiple obstacles. This step was essential to achieve complete coverage of the chapel.
Data Processing and 3D Modelling
The collected datasets were processed inAgisoft Metashape, where laser scanning and photogrammetric data were aligned and integrated to produce a high-resolution textured 3D mesh.
In addition to standard 2D outputs such as orthomosaics, the creation of an optimized 3D model required further post-processing steps. The mesh was decimated to ensure usability on portable devices and then imported into Blender.
WithinBlender, the geometry was refined through 3D modelling and digital sculpting techniques, removing imperfections and excluding areas not relevant to the intervention. The cleaned model was then re-imported into Metashape and re-textured to ensure high visual quality.
Applications for Conservation
The final outputs included:
- –high-resolutiontextured 3D models
- –optimizedmodels for on-site use
- -high-resolutionorthomosaics
These deliverables were designed to support restoration planning, allowing conservators to analyze the chapel’s condition directly on digital models, even in field conditions.
This project demonstrates howintegrated 3D survey methodologies—combining laser scanning, photogrammetry, and drone acquisition—can provide accurate and versatile documentation for complex cultural heritage environments.