Research Article

Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers

Volume: 3 Number: 2 November 26, 2025

Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers

Abstract

Archaeological ships, with their hydrodynamic forms, construction techniques, spatial arrangements, material use, and aesthetic details, reflect not only the maritime culture and technology but also the architectural principles of naval design in their respective periods. For this reason, the documentation and preservation of shipwrecks fall within the common field of interest of both nautical archaeology and architectural conservation disciplines. This study evaluates the potential of the structured-light scanning (SLS) method in the three-dimensional documentation and modelling of archaeological ship timbers. The research was carried out on the Yenikapı shipwrecks of Istanbul University; wooden ship components were scanned with a structured-light scanner, and the device’s operating parameters and data processing procedure were analysed. The results demonstrate that SLS is an innovative method that allows the acquisition of highly accurate, rapid, and non-contact data, offering a practical and readily applicable approach. The method is particularly suitable for cultural heritage studies such as the documentation and modelling of small- and medium-scale artefacts, the recording of museum collections and conservation applications. In this context, the article aims to serve as a reference for future similar studies and to provide guidance to researchers who wish to apply the method.

Keywords

References

  1. Alptekin, A., Çelik, M. Ö., & Yakar, M. (2019). Anıtmezarın yersel lazer tarayıcı kullanarak 3B modellenmesi. Türkiye LiDAR Dergisi, 18(1), 1– 4. 4.2 google scholar
  2. Auer, J. (2021). Two ships under rocks: A glimpse into rural shipbuilding in Western Pomerania. Archaeonautica, 21, 219–224. google scholar
  3. Auer, J. (2023). The 3D annotated scans method revisited: Recent experiences with the mass documentation of wet-stored timbers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Paper presented at the Society for Historical Archaeology, Lisbon, Portugal. google scholar
  4. Bischoff, V. (2020). Rekonstruktion af Osebergskibet: Form, konstruktion og funktion. KADK. google scholar
  5. Bischoff, V. (2023). Ships and boats of the North 9: The Oseberg ship, reconstruction of form and function. The Viking Ship Museum. google scholar
  6. Cooper, J. P., Wetherelt, A., Zazzaro, C. and Eyre, M. (2018). From boatyard to museum: 3D laser scanning and digital modelling of the Qatar Museums watercraft collection, Doha, Qatar. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 47(2), 419–442. google scholar
  7. Costa, E., & Beltrame, C. (2021). The 5th-century AD riverine boat of Santa Maria in Padovetere: 3D reconstruction of its shape and context. Archaeonautica, 21, 303–308. google scholar
  8. Costa, E., Balletti, C., Beltrame, C., Guerra, F. and Vernier, P. (2016). Digital survey techniques for the documentation of wooden shipwrecks International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLI-B5, 237–242. google scholar

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Architectural Heritage and Conservation

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Çisil Şanlıgençler Öcalır This is me
0000-0002-4511-666X
Türkiye

Publication Date

November 26, 2025

Submission Date

September 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 23, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 3 Number: 2

APA
Şanlıgençler Öcalır, Ç., & Kocabaş, I. (2025). Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers. Journal of Technology in Architecture, Design and Planning, 3(2), 140-161. https://doi.org/10.26650/JTADP.993
AMA
1.Şanlıgençler Öcalır Ç, Kocabaş I. Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers. JTADP. 2025;3(2):140-161. doi:10.26650/JTADP.993
Chicago
Şanlıgençler Öcalır, Çisil, and Işıl Kocabaş. 2025. “Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers”. Journal of Technology in Architecture, Design and Planning 3 (2): 140-61. https://doi.org/10.26650/JTADP.993.
EndNote
Şanlıgençler Öcalır Ç, Kocabaş I (November 1, 2025) Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers. Journal of Technology in Architecture, Design and Planning 3 2 140–161.
IEEE
[1]Ç. Şanlıgençler Öcalır and I. Kocabaş, “Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers”, JTADP, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 140–161, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.26650/JTADP.993.
ISNAD
Şanlıgençler Öcalır, Çisil - Kocabaş, Işıl. “Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers”. Journal of Technology in Architecture, Design and Planning 3/2 (November 1, 2025): 140-161. https://doi.org/10.26650/JTADP.993.
JAMA
1.Şanlıgençler Öcalır Ç, Kocabaş I. Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers. JTADP. 2025;3:140–161.
MLA
Şanlıgençler Öcalır, Çisil, and Işıl Kocabaş. “Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers”. Journal of Technology in Architecture, Design and Planning, vol. 3, no. 2, Nov. 2025, pp. 140-61, doi:10.26650/JTADP.993.
Vancouver
1.Çisil Şanlıgençler Öcalır, Işıl Kocabaş. Structured-Light Scanning for 3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage: An Applied Methodological Study on Archaeological Ship Timbers. JTADP. 2025 Nov. 1;3(2):140-61. doi:10.26650/JTADP.993