Cultural Heritage Applications of 3D Close-Range Imaging Sensors

In the last years, the use of 3D imaging sensors for the contactless acquisition of cultural heritage has gained increased attention by museums and by the archeological specialists. A number of research laboratories have worked on the modeling of statues, the 3D documentation of archeological sites, the automated classification of pieces, the visualization, the monitoring and the reproduction (especially for conservation purposes) of the finds. In this contribution, we present a number of significant examples of 3D techniques applied to acquisition, modeling, prototyping and concurrent study of ancient monuments and archaeological findings.