Abstract
The assessment of the structural analysis of existing historical structures is a major concern for conservation purposes. Due to the inherent complex geometry, irregularities during original construction, aging, degradation, and structural damage, the evaluation techniques available are less effective. Currently, the 3D laser scanning is a relatively new but rapidly growing technology. A laser scanner collects millions of points in a second and creates the framework of point cloud. In this study, the application of various laser scanner for structural assessment has been reviewed. The latest version of the laser scanners with accompanying software are capable of precise capture and registration (alignment) of point clouds for structures with basic concepts on historical construction and digitization. Application of laser scanning for 3D finite element (FE) modeling of the historical structures will be calibrated based on the results of the on-site laser scanning for retrofitting purpose. 3D laser scanning provides accurate 3D point cloud information by capturing 1 million points per second as compared to traditional survey (1 point per 5 s) where complex historical structures can be modeled for greater efficiency, performance, and time savings. In addition, the review of laser scanner for evaluating the historical structures construction to perform vulnerability assessments and develop methods to retrofit historical monuments for design guidelines has been performed.