High-Resolution TLS and LiDAR Integration for the 3D Mapping of the Villa del Casale Bath Complex

Abstract

This study presents some of the results of a longitudinal digital documentation project focused on the western bath complex of the Villa Romana del Casale (Piazza Armerina, Sicily). By integrating terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and LiDAR datasets acquired between 2017 and 2024, the study demonstrates the analytical value of reunifying legacy and newly collected 3D data into a single, metrically accurate digital surrogate. The resulting high-resolution point cloud supports precise volumetric and spatial analyses of the bath complex, one example of which is presented here. The study tracks the methods used and challenges faced in the digital documentation of the villa using TLS and suggests avenues of further research in its use for analysis on heating systems, water management, and architectural function. Beyond the potential for analytical use, the methods used in the study also establishes a framework for long-term condition monitoring and conservation planning. The project highlights both the technical challenges and methodological benefits of multi-sensor, multi-temporal integration, and argues for the treatment of 3D documentation as a cumulative research infrastructure rather than a series of isolated recording campaigns.