14 THE BUILDING CONSERVATION DIRECTORY 2025 CATHEDRAL COMMUNICATIONS structural shifts. New surveys can be compared against this dataset to track progressive deterioration and inform preventative interventions. 2 Education by using the dataset for educational workshops and training programs, helping conservation professionals learn best-practice techniques. The geospatial survey is acting as a framework and content for an education legacy project to share the journey and learnings. 3 Disaster response and reconstruction so if fire, flooding or structural collapse occurs, the digital archive will enable precise restoration by providing a millimetric-accurate reference. This ensures that future reconstructions remain faithful to the original structure. 4 Public engagement and heritage awareness where the dataset has been adapted for interactive tours, allowing members of the public to explore the Old House remotely. Augmented reality applications could provide virtual overlays of the house’s construction phases, showing how it evolved over centuries. The SPAB Old House Project exemplifies how data from geospatial surveys provides a resource that can continue to support preservation, education and engagement for decades to come. THE CALL TO ACTION It is time for heritage professionals to demand better. Best-practice geospatial surveys should not be viewed as an optional luxury but as an essential foundation for responsible conservation of our built heritage. Before commissioning a survey, ask: does this provider follow Historic England’s Geospatial Survey Specifications for Cultural Heritage and what evidence do they have to support that? Is a control network being implemented for consistency, accuracy and future coordination? Is the technology or equipment appropriate for the level of detail or information required? And is this data ‘one use only’ or will it remain useful for future conservation efforts? The bottom line? Cutting corners on geospatial surveys is often a false economy. Precision, accuracy and adherence to best practice are essential for ensuring the longevity and integrity of our built heritage. The industry must move beyond outdated methods, inadequate documentation and inconsistent adoption of established standards. and recommendations, particularly since the technological and accessibility barriers to widespread adoption in the past have been broken down. The future of heritage conservation depends on it. ANDY BEARDSLEY ARICS is the founder and managing director of Terra Measurement Limited (www. terrameasurement.com – see page 10), which specialises in 3D geospatial surveys for heritage buildings and infrastructure. He is a geospatial surveyor and consultant with over 32 years’ experience. BRIEF GLOSSARY OF TERMS WITHIN THIS ARTICLE Terrestrial 3D laser scanning (TLS) A ground-based laser scanning technique that captures highly detailed and accurate 3D data of buildings, landscapes and structures by emitting laser pulses and measuring the reflections. Digital photogrammetry A method of extracting 3D measurements from 2D photographs by identifying common points in multiple overlapping images, often used for creating orthophotos, elevation models and textured 3D models. Topographical survey A detailed mapping survey that records natural and man-made features of the land (for example, contours, trees, buildings, roads) and their spatial relationships, typically used for planning, design and construction. 3D point cloud A collection of millions of individual 3D points captured using laser scanning or photogrammetry, forming a precise digital representation of an object’s shape and surface details. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) A remotely operated airborne platform equipped with sensors (for example, LiDAR, photogrammetric cameras) to capture aerial survey data for mapping, inspection and monitoring applications. Survey control network A hierarchical system of precisely measured and fixed reference points used to ensure consistency, accuracy and repeatability in geospatial surveys. Passive wall prop A non-intrusive structural monitoring device used to detect movement, displacement or deformation in walls and structures over time. 3D monitoring (from TLS) The use of repeat TLS scans to track changes in a structure by comparing multiple point cloud datasets over time, useful for detecting subsidence, deformation or structural movement. SHM monitoring (structural health monitoring) The continuous or periodic assessment of a structure’s stability, stress and condition using sensors (for example, tilt meters, strain gauges, displacement sensors) to detect early signs of deterioration or failure. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) A remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure distances and create high-resolution 3D models of terrain, buildings and vegetation. Used in aerial (UAV) and terrestrial (TLS) geospatial surveys. The SPAB Old House project photographed from the air by a drone and, below, representations of one elevation from the 3D survey data. Once a gatehouse chapel, its original medieval structure has been added to and extended over the years. The survey data is invaluable for unpicking its history.
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