3D photogrammetric reconstruction by “Structure from Motion” as a monitoring technique for safety, conservation and improvement of the fruition of cultural heritage

In the last years, with the large growth of new state-of-the-art technologies used in the field of cultural heritage, it's increasingly necessary to promote non-invasive and non-destructive techniques which are "sensitive" to the nature of the site in which they are applied, respecting the Italian historical-artistic heritage. Within the COBRA project [1], ENEA developed a new low-cost and non-destructive survey technique by 3D Photogrammetric reconstruction, using the Structure from Motion (SfM) method, for innovative applications in the field of cultural heritage [2]. This paper shows an application of this methodology on the archaeological complex of Priscilla's Catacombs in Rome. Three case studies have been identified, with several design purposes, showing the different applications of this technique: a sarcophagus called “Sarcofago delle Muse”, a chapel named “Cappella Greca” and a masonry element, which are all situated in the “Criptoportico” area.