Evaluation of TLS and PMLS Sensors for Cultural Heritage Documentation and HBIM Modelling: The Case Study of San Giacomo Church in Como, Italy

Abstract

Abstract. Static Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and SLAM-based Portable Mobile Laser Scanning (PMLS) are increasingly adopted in Cultural Heritage (CH) documentation, but their suitability for Historic/Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) depends on both data quality and acquisition conditions. This paper compares a 2022 TLS survey and a 2025 handheld PMLS survey of San Giacomo Church (Como, Italy) to assess whether the latter can reliably support HBIM-oriented documentation. The methodology combines dataset-level comparison and ROI-based analysis on four stable architectural elements: apsis, pillar, timber roof truss, and central dome. Three complementary metrics were used: a local density proxy, a scale-dependent coverage ratio, and M3C2 distance statistics for geometric agreement. Results show that PMLS is consistently less dense than TLS but remains effective for 1:100 scale documentation and, in several cases, also for 1:50. Statistics on M3C2 distance remain generally within centimetric ranges, indicating good local agreement where surfaces are effectively observed. The study demonstrates that sensor suitability not only depends on the geometric complexity but also on sensor-to-surface distance, visibility, and acquisition geometry, supporting hybrid TLS–PMLS workflows for CH HBIM.