Keywords: Terrestrial laser scanner, geometrical assessment, gothic, vaults, Cathedral of Tortosa The development of massive data captures techniques (MDC) in recent years, such as the Terrestrial laser Scanner (TLS), raises the possibility of developing new assessment procedures for architectural heritage. The 3D models that it is able to obtain is a great potential tool, both for conservation purposes and for historical and architectural studies. The paper proposes a simple, non-invasive methodology for the assessment of masonry vaults from point clouds which makes it possible to obtain relevant data about the formal anomalies. The methodology is tested in Tortosa’s Gothic Cathedral’s vaults, where the geometrical differences between vaults, a priori equal, are identified and related with the partially known construction phases. The procedure can be easily used on any other vaulted construction of any kind, but is especially useful to deal with the complex geometry of Gothic masonry vaults.

Catenary arches were used in Spanish Art Nouveau architecture by Antonio Gaudí (1852–1926). The theory of the chain, which is based in the shape of a hanging collar, was proposed by Robert Hooke (1676) and was used by Christopher Wren in Saint Paul’s dome (1675). British school modern mechanics theory was introduced in Spain by Spanish borbonic military engineers as well as by Catholic Scottish and Irish families during the eighteenth century. The assessment of some drawings of gunpowder warehouses, which were found in the collection of Mapas planos y Dibujos (MPD) of the General Archive of Simancas (Archivo General de Simancas, AGS) (AGS 2014), have revealed the use of the chain theory in Miguel Marín’s projects for Tortosa (1731) and Barcelona (1731) as well as in Juan de la Feriére projects in A Coruña (1736). Built evidence has also been found: The Carlón wine cellars in Benicarló, which were built by the Irish O’Connor family (1757). The analysis of these examples demonstrated the arrival the chain theory to Spain during the first half of the 18th century.

El Duque de Belle-Isle y el Conde de Espié habían conocido en sus campañas de la Guerra de Sucesión (1701-1715) la voûte à la Roussillon. Estas bóvedas tabicadas obtuvieron una buena crítica en toda Europa y también en España (donde eran conocidas desde el siglo XIV) gracias a la difusión de los textos del Conde de Espié (1754) y de Pierre Patte (1777). Se determina qué uso tuvieron las bóvedas tabicadas desde el punto de vista de la construcción militar, favorecidas por sus supuestas cualidades mecánicas, y cuál fue la repercusión entre los ingenieros militares españoles del siglo XVIII. El estudio concluye que la localización de los proyectos realizados con esta técnica por ingenieros militares en el Levante español, coincide con los lugares donde ya existía una mano de obra especializada y que conocía esta técnica constructiva.