Integrated strategies for the modeling of very large, complex architecture

The paper would like to present a research job conducted in cooperation with the Veneranda Fabbrica of Milan Cathedral to survey and model the main cathedral spire. The job aims to find methods and a typological way to operate to produce an accurate 3D model to support forthcoming restoration works. The paper will concentrate on the description and analysis of problems and difficulties found during the survey processes and solutions chosen to overcome these problems, both in the measuring phase but in particular in the processing one. Future research is also proposed.