The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Cultural Heritage Documentation

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized the field of cultural heritage documentation by providing high-resolution, flexible, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional surveying methods. UAVs enable rapid acquisition of aerial imagery and three-dimensional (3D) data, supporting photogrammetric reconstruction, laser scanning, and continuous temporal monitoring of historical structures, archaeological sites, and urban heritage landscapes. This study comprehensively reviews contemporary UAV applications in cultural heritage, emphasizing case studies from Turkey that illustrate the effectiveness of UAV-based surveys in documenting architectural details, assessing material degradation, and informing conservation strategies. The research further examines the integration of UAV workflows with complementary techniques such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), close-range photogrammetry (CRP), and Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM), highlighting the advantages of hybrid data fusion for producing accurate, visually rich, and analytically robust 3D models. Key benefits, including operational efficiency, non-invasive data collection, and the ability to perform temporal monitoring, are discussed alongside inherent limitations such as environmental constraints, sensor capabilities, and data processing requirements. Finally, the study explores future prospects of UAV-based heritage documentation, including the use of multispectral and hyperspectral sensors, AI-assisted feature extraction, and cloud-based collaborative platforms, emphasizing their potential to enhance preventive conservation, structural assessment, and public engagement. Through this comprehensive review, UAV technology is demonstrated as a transformative tool that not only advances the scientific understanding and preservation of cultural heritage but also facilitates innovative visualization, virtual reconstruction, and broad societal access to historically significant sites.

Keywords

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
• Photogrammetry
• Cultural Heritage
• documentation
• ,lidar
• Terrestrial laser scanner

Kültürel Mirasların Belgelenmesinde İnsansız Hava Aracı Verilerinin Kullanımı

Abstract

Keywords

• İnsansız Hava Aracı
• Fotogrametri
• Belgeleme
• Kültürel Miras

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