Investigation of the structural response through simple numerical models derived automatically from LiDAR scanning: the case of masonry vaults in historical buildings

Structural response of masonry vaults is closely connected with their geometric shape. LiDAR scanning has created a new possibility for a fast surveying of their complex geometry. The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of an approximated surface created from a registered point cloud to develop a structural model for the fast analysis of masonry vaults. The study combines scanning with LiDAR sensor, automatic surface recon-struction methods and structural analysis with the finite element method. The results highlight that the simpli-fied models created in a short time, although preliminary, allow to give important results on the structural re-sponse of masonry vaults as the magnitude of forces in the system, the force flow or damage predictions. The elements of a future methodology are developed alongside the case of the church of St. Marta, located in the town of Arona, in the shores of Lake Maggiore in Italy.