From comparison to integration: A workflow evaluation of 3D Gaussian splatting and LiDAR point cloud for modern architectural heritage

IF 11.5 1区工程技术 Q1 CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Automation in Construction Pub Date : 2025-09-09 DOI:10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106509

Yingwen Yu , Edward Verbree , Peter van Oosterom , Uta Pottgiesser , Yuyang Peng , Florent Poux

{"title":"From comparison to integration: A workflow evaluation of 3D Gaussian splatting and LiDAR point cloud for modern architectural heritage","authors":"Yingwen Yu , Edward Verbree , Peter van Oosterom , Uta Pottgiesser , Yuyang Peng , Florent Poux","doi":"10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106509","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the role of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) within point cloud–dominated workflows for modern architectural heritage digitization. While 3DGS enables real-time, photorealistic visualization, its integration into LiDAR-based documentation pipelines remains underexplored. Using Bouwpub, a modern heritage building in the Netherlands, as a case study, the paper compares 3DGS and LiDAR across data acquisition and preservation, visualization, semantic segmentation, and dissemination. Results show that 3DGS offers superior visual expressiveness and user responsiveness, whereas LiDAR provides greater structural accuracy and segmentation reliability. Based on these findings, two integration strategies are proposed: a Blender-based multi-angle rendering workflow and a Level of Detail 3DGS (LOD3DGS) pipeline. Moving from isolated assessment to applied integration, the study positions 3DGS as a complementary visualization and dissemination module rather than a replacement. This hybrid approach supports immersive, scalable, and semantically enriched digital heritage systems, offering new directions for enhancing both expert documentation and public engagement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8660,"journal":{"name":"Automation in Construction","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 106509"},"PeriodicalIF":11.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Automation in Construction","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580525005497","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) within point cloud–dominated workflows for modern architectural heritage digitization. While 3DGS enables real-time, photorealistic visualization, its integration into LiDAR-based documentation pipelines remains underexplored. Using Bouwpub, a modern heritage building in the Netherlands, as a case study, the paper compares 3DGS and LiDAR across data acquisition and preservation, visualization, semantic segmentation, and dissemination. Results show that 3DGS offers superior visual expressiveness and user responsiveness, whereas LiDAR provides greater structural accuracy and segmentation reliability. Based on these findings, two integration strategies are proposed: a Blender-based multi-angle rendering workflow and a Level of Detail 3DGS (LOD3DGS) pipeline. Moving from isolated assessment to applied integration, the study positions 3DGS as a complementary visualization and dissemination module rather than a replacement. This hybrid approach supports immersive, scalable, and semantically enriched digital heritage systems, offering new directions for enhancing both expert documentation and public engagement.

查看原文本刊更多论文

从比较到整合：现代建筑遗产的三维高斯飞溅和激光雷达点云的工作流程评估

本文研究了三维高斯飞溅（3DGS）在现代建筑遗产数字化中以点云为主导的工作流程中的作用。虽然3DGS可以实现实时、逼真的可视化，但它与基于激光雷达的文档管道的集成仍有待探索。本文以荷兰现代遗产建筑Bouwpub为例，比较了3DGS和LiDAR在数据采集和保存、可视化、语义分割和传播等方面的差异。结果表明，3DGS具有更好的视觉表现力和用户响应性，而LiDAR具有更高的结构精度和分割可靠性。基于这些发现，提出了两种集成策略：基于blender的多角度渲染工作流和LOD3DGS （Level of Detail 3DGS）管道。从孤立的评估到应用集成，该研究将3DGS定位为一个互补的可视化和传播模块，而不是替代。这种混合方法支持沉浸式、可扩展和语义丰富的数字遗产系统，为加强专家文献和公众参与提供了新的方向。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Automation in Construction 工程技术-工程：土木

CiteScore

19.20

自引率

16.50%

发文量

563

审稿时长

8.5 months

期刊介绍： Automation in Construction is an international journal that focuses on publishing original research papers related to the use of Information Technologies in various aspects of the construction industry. The journal covers topics such as design, engineering, construction technologies, and the maintenance and management of constructed facilities. The scope of Automation in Construction is extensive and covers all stages of the construction life cycle. This includes initial planning and design, construction of the facility, operation and maintenance, as well as the eventual dismantling and recycling of buildings and engineering structures.