Definition and characterization of a historical building by using digital photogrammetry and operational modal analysis : San Juan de los Caballeros Church (Cádiz, Spain)

Abstract

Nowadays, the preservation of the architectural heritage is a fundamental aspect in the cultural development of modern cities. This heritage has to be preserved and different technical analysis are usually necessary to ensure its proper preservation. The main problem is that the greatest difficulty for the analytical analysis of kind of buildings is the high level of uncertainty associated with many factors. For example, slight modifications of the geometry or the mechanical properties of the structural materials can be the cause of great differences between the results obtained from an analytical analysis and others estimated experimentally. Due to this fact, before performing these analysis, non-destructive techniques are usually an indispensable tool to provide information about the current geometry and the structural behaviour of the building. Thus, the use of photogrammetric techniques and ambient vibration tests allows the right definition of the current geometry and the dynamic characterization of the building, respectively.