Application scope of the Terrestrial Laser Scanner in measured survey on architectural heritages

This article discussed measurement accuracy and application domain of the terrestrial laser scanning system in the field of architectural heritage. Experiments showed that the positional accuracy of this technology only achieved 1 centimeter and its length relative error also was bigger than that of a direct measurement method. According to analysis on the accuracy level of the laser scanner and requirements on architectural heritage surveys in China, we conclude that the technology is unfit for high accuracy surveys for architectural heritages such as deformation monitoring, and in the most survey activities on architectural heritages, this technology should be used with direct measurement technologies to get all-around, exact data of a building for heritage research, conservation and display.