Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is an essential technology for heritage documentation, conservation, and management. It enables people to understand, archive, advertise, and virtually reconstruct their built heritage. Creating highly accurate HBIM models requires the use of several reality capture tools, such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), photogrammetry, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), etc. However, the existing literature did not explicitly review the applications and impacts of TLS in implementing HBIM. This paper uses the PRISMA protocol to present a systematic review of TLS utilization in capturing reality data in order to recognize the status of applications of TLS for HBIM and identify the knowledge gaps on the topic. A thorough examination of the 58 selected articles revealed the state-of-the-art practices when utilizing static TLS technology for surveying and processing captured TLS data for developing HBIM models. Moreover, the absence of guidelines for using static TLS surveys for HBIM data acquisition, the lack of robust automated frameworks for producing/transferring 3D geometries and their attributes from TLS data to BIM entities, and the under-utilized application of TLS for long-term monitoring and change detection were identified as gaps in knowledge. The findings of this research provide stakeholders with a good grasp of static TLS for HBIM and therefore lay the foundation for further research, strategies, and scientific solutions for improving the utilization of TLS when documenting heritage structures and developing HBIM.

Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is increasingly utilized to develop accurate and semantic-rich databases for the representation, preservation, and renovation of cultural heritage. A critical factor in successful HBIM delivery is the intended uses of the model, which need to be established by stakeholders at the onset of the program. Despite the greater application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies to HBIM workflows, the discipline continues to lack clarity regarding information requirements from a tenant perspective. The first stage of this research was a review of 26 published HBIM case studies to extract information including HBIM workflows, level of development (LOD) models in the field, and the stakeholders’ participation in the HBIM program. The findings from the case studies conclude that most HBIM methodologies did not seek to understand the needs of assumptive stakeholders and lacked a clearly defined objective. Ten interviews with proprietors of ten different historic courthouses in the southeastern United States were also included in the study, which were used to identify the priorities of HBIM programs from a built heritage stakeholder’s standpoint. These priorities were used in conjunction with reviewed field standards to develop LOD supplement guidelines applicable for HBIM, which were then validated through a case study. The findings of this research conclude that the creation of LOD guidelines for HBIM application is both achievable and advisable, as they allow stakeholders to identify their priorities for HBIM projects. Such guidelines would assist in standardizing the HBIM discipline and disseminating its usefulness to historic building managers. This research also provides standards that allow cultural heritage stakeholders to make informed decisions about potential HBIM programs and maximize the use of resources to implement such programs. Moreover, the methodology implemented in this research offers a valuable example for future studies on HBIM guidelines and regulations.

This paper presents a systematic review of published case studies on Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) since 2018, and identifies research gaps in the subject matter. Building upon the foundational work of Ewart and Zuecco (2019), this research aims to reveal the latest trends in HBIM implementation, identify recent developments of HBIM technologies, changes in the purpose of HBIM programs and stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and uncover knowledge gaps that provide avenues for future research. Utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach, two major academic databases, Scopus and Web of Science (WOS), were searched, resulting in a rich and diverse dataset for analysis. The paper reports findings on the status of reality capture techniques used to acquire data for HBIM development, focusing on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology. The review highlights the benefits and limitations of TLS for data acquisition in HBIM, as well as the integration of TLS with other reality capture technologies, such as Structure from Motion (SfM) and photogrammetry. The paper further outlines the typical workflow for processing TLS scan data and explores the integration of multiple point clouds for comprehensive heritage site modeling. In addition to the state of the art, this systematic review also uncovers several research gaps in the field of HBIM that offer opportunities for future research and innovation, including the lack of guidelines for data acquisition in HBIM programs, the predominantly manual development process of HBIM from TLS point cloud data, and the under-utilized capacity of TLS for long-term monitoring and change detection. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the current landscape of HBIM, offering guidance for future research and development in the heritage sector and highlighting areas in need of further investigation to advance the field.

The comprehensive digital documentation of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a symbol of the American Civil Rights Movement located in Selma, Alabama, serves as an example of integrating Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies for the conservation of heritage infrastructure. This study aimed to employ advanced TLS and other Reality Capture (RC) techniques to generate a high-resolution, three-dimensional representation of the bridge, thereby aiding in its structural assessment and preservation. Utilizing TLS alongside 360-degree photography and UAV surveys, the project achieved detailed coverage of the bridge's architectural and structural features. The data collected was processed into a BIM model using Autodesk Revit, offering comprehensive analysis and preservation planning. The findings from this research highlighted previously undetected areas of material degradation and structural vulnerabilities, emphasizing the value of TLS and BIM in revealing critical insights into the condition of heritage structures. This project preserved the digital memory of an iconic Civil Rights landmark and set a framework for applying digital documentation technologies in heritage infrastructure conservation. The success of this methodology offers a valuable precedent for future conservation efforts, showcasing how RC technologies can enhance the preservation of historical sites and ensure their legacy is maintained for future generations.

This study presents a comprehensive digital documentation and preservation effort for the Sellman Tenant House, a historic structure once part of the 18th-century Sellman Plantation in Maryland, USA. This research employs an array of digital technologies, including Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), digital photogrammetry, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), 3D virtual tours, and Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM), to document and analyze the construction techniques and historical evolution of the house. Given the absence of written records detailing its original construction, this study utilizes data from these digital documentation methods to explore the building’s structure and determine its construction timeline and methods. Additionally, this research investigates the potential of HBIM as an educational platform to enhance public understanding of heritage buildings by creating interactive and accessible digital models. The findings highlight the effectiveness of combining digital tools to decode vernacular construction and showcase the potential of HBIM in preserving and interpreting historic buildings for diverse audiences, especially for educational purposes. This research contributes to the growing field of digital heritage preservation by showcasing a case study of integrating multiple digital technologies to study, preserve, and promote understanding of a culturally significant yet understudied structure.

This paper presents a multi-device scan-to-HBIM workflow developed for the adaptive reuse of the Odd Fellows Building (b.1911), a socially significant historic landmark with seven stories above ground and a basement, located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn National Historic Landmark District. As a major contributing structure within the culturally significant corridor, the building’s adaptive reuse demands precise documentation, rapid data collection, and efficient stakeholder communication. To meet these goals within strict time and funding limits, the research integrates Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Matterport 360-camera technology, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to create an efficient and accessible pipeline for documenting historic buildings, assisting with renovation and construction processes. TLS is employed as a benchmark capture method to establish a baseline point cloud for aligning all other data. Matterport technology enables fast interior scanning while providing high-resolution visuals and an interactive virtual tour platform. UAVs are deployed to supplement data collection in hard-to-access exterior areas, especially where ground-based reality capture tools encounter spatial or logistical barriers. This not only accelerates data acquisition under time and budget constraints but also offers stakeholders the ability to remotely revisit the space without geographic limitation. This multi-device strategy optimizes the trade-off between capture speed and spatial tolerance, accommodating a complex mix of preserved historic elements (exterior and lobby space) and altered upper floors. Besides, a full TLS capture approach could cause potential data saturation and processing inefficiencies. The multi-device approach has multiple data processed registered to provide one combined point cloud, which is integrated into a semantically rich HBIM model developed in Autodesk Revit at Level of Development (LoD) 300. Although not a full Digital Twin (DT), the resulting model establishes a foundational framework for future digital twinning and immersive applications. By demonstrating how different reality capture technologies can be effectively integrated to accommodate site limitations, stakeholder needs, and funding constraints, this case study contributes to the broader discourse on digital transformation in construction, particularly the evolving intersection of BIM, remote visualization, and the early stages of DT development in the preservation sector.