Leica Geosystems TruStoryLeica 3D Disto Helps to Restore Santa Maria Novella, Firenze

CompaniesCity of Florence, Dept. Fine Arts andTechnics, Architect Maria BonelliUniversity of Florence, Dip. Constructions and Restoration, Prof. Arch. Roberto Sabelli, Technical execution: Architect Italo Celiento & Dr. Jacopo G. Vitale Farad Srl. Calenzano-Firenze, Mr. C. Pecchioli for the Leica 3D Disto

ChallengeGraphic reconstruction of frescoedvaulted ceilingsVisualise the graphical documentationof the architectural monument

Result•Timesavingattherecordingof data points.•Possibilitytorealizethebiggestpart of the activities with one single operator.•Optimizedprocessflowandwithit reduced costs and time.

The project is abaut the „Resto-ration of a part of the frescoed ceilings of the Cloister of the Dead in the monastery of SantaMaria Novella in Florence, and the implementation of new equipment” Architects were given the opportunity testing the Lei-ca 3D Disto, provided by Farad Ltd, for the surveying of a his-torical architectural monument.

The manager and director of the activities arch. Maria Bonelli (Department of Fine Arts and Technical Services of the City of Florence) and Professor. Arch.

Roberto Sabella (DiCR - Department of Construction and Restoration of the University of Florence) have agreed on the modalities of the survey, also regarding the needs of the restorers operating in the field.The architects Dr. Italo Celiento and Dr. Jacopo G. Vitale, have been trained by Farad s.r.l. on how to use the instrument and its technical features. They alternated their activities of measurements, planning the work with the objective optimizing the actionsof the individual operator according to the automatisms offered by the instrument.

With the need to record the ribs of the vaulted ceilings into all details, it was sufficient to place the instrument at the centre of each turn, covering all data points with a fast automatic scanning. Different methods of targeting were tested such as manually, remotely and indirectly targeting using the handheld control unit, choosing between different options depending on the requiments.The possibility visualizing the target points immediately reduces consider-ably any probable errors and makes

Site of reconstruction of the vaulted ceilings

Santa Maria Novella

Arcade of the Chloister

ment of the Secure Points minimizes

errors and increases the speed of possible handovers from one ope-rator to the next.Performing horizontal and vertical section scanning was tested with varying frequency of points (1 to 50 cm), adapting the instrument to the morphology of the surface and the need for more or less dense point detection. The same sections are easily identified, with quick and easy graphical methods,

Product Highlights•Veryhighandproofedprecision•Precisescanevenofcurvedarches•Automaticmeasurementsfromonly one station•Easyandfastmovingforward•Reducedcostsandsurveyingtime

For further information pleaseWilliam.Picciafuoco@leica-geosystems.it

the immediate correction and/or integration of the measurement feasible without computer first.

The ability to store the individual series of targeted points together with common Secure Points, allows connecting the series and to proceed quickly and safely between the different measurement stations.

The ability of the Leica 3D Disto taking pictures during the measure-

Leica Geosystems AGHeinrich-Wild-Strasse CH-9435 Heerbrugg Switzerland Phone +41 71 727 31 31 www.leica-geosystems.com

thus being replicated with pinpoint precision for continuous monitoring.The data of each session can be transferred to the PC via USB port and evaluated by 2D and 3D modelling software in order to obtain a direct modelling of the surfaces, sections and the volumes.

We can confirm that only one single operator was needed for the majority of measurement tasks.Concluding, the Leica Disto 3D allows a considerably optimized process flow, reducing costs and the time of surveying, maintaining a high standard of safety and control over the different setup positions, their documentation and data post-processing in the office software.

Italo Celiento, Architect und Dr. Jacopo G. Vitale: responsible area Research and Development DiaCon s.r.l.

Shot of one measuring point

3D reproduction of a cross-vault