Photogrammetry and Digital Scanning in Heritage Conservation: INAH

Introduction: Technology at the Service of the Past

Three years ago, archaeologists from the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) faced a dilemma: how to preserve a 14th-century pre-Hispanic vessel without touching it, without exposing it to invasive light, without any risk. The answer came in the form of structured light and algorithms. The transformed that fragile piece into a perfect digital twin, accessible for researchers worldwide without the original suffering a single touch.

This is not a science fiction story. It is the current reality of digital conservation, a silent revolution that transforms how institutions like INAH protect Mexico’s cultural heritage. From From 3D scanning to augmented reality, technology has become an indispensable ally of modern archaeology.

INAH and the Digital Revolution of Heritage

El Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) has adopted a conservation strategy based on high-precision 3D technology. This transformation responds to an imminent reality: more than 60% of registered archaeological sites face threats from climate change, urbanization, and excessive tourism.

Key Technologies in Digital Conservation

• High-Precision Photogrammetry
  Capture of up to 500 photographs per archaeological piece. Generates three-dimensional models with submillimeter precision and photorealistic textures.
  
  
• Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS)
  Massive documentation of large-scale structures. Captures millions of points per second with ±2 mm precision.
  
  
• 3D Modeling and BIM
  Integration with BIM platforms for heritage asset management. Foundation for virtual restoration, maintenance, and structural analysis.
  
  
• AR & Virtual tours
  Immersive applications that allow exploring temples, artifacts and murals from anywhere in the world.
  
  

Lee también: Códice Boturini Digital: INAH Revoluciona la Preservación Patrimonial con Gemelos Digitales

Emblematic Cases of INAH: Technology in Action

Teotihuacán: City of the Gods in Digital Format

Thanks to drones, terrestrial scanners and modeling algorithms, a complete digital twin of the archaeological site has been created. This includes:

• La Pirámide del Sol, con modelo 3D a 5 mm de precisión
  
  
• Documentation of 2.5 km of the
  
  
• Murals scanned in ultra-high resolution for iconographic analysis
  
  

The digital model allows universities from all over the world to research without setting foot at the site.

Monte Albán: IoT for Preventive Archaeology

Here, INAH integrated environmental sensors and artificial intelligence to prevent structural deterioration. Real-time data allows predicting damage and activating conservation strategies before visible cracks appear.

Resultados:

• 65% less annual deterioration thanks to preventive interventions
  
  
• Dynamic maintenance plans, powered by AI
  
  
• Temperature, humidity, and vibration control in sensitive areas

Democratization of Knowledge: Science Without Borders

Thanks to these digital models, academic access has multiplied:

• +10,000 3D models available online
  
  
• API for universities and researchers
  
  
• Access from 45 countries, reducing physical piece requests by 70%
  
  
• Joint publications between INAH and international universities have increased 150%
  
  

Sustainability and Preventive Conservation

Reduction of Carbon Footprint

• A virtual tour avoids up to 2.3 kg of CO₂ per visitor
  
  
• Digitalization reduces paper, chemical, and transportation use
  
  
• Optimization of physical space in archives and laboratories
  
  

AI-Based Predictive Maintenance

• Deterioration prediction with 85% accuracy
  
  
• Automatic alerts for minimally invasive interventions
  
  
• Real-time interface for continuous monitoring via IoT sensors
  
  

Conclusion: Technology to Remember What Time Erases

La combinación de fotogrametría, escaneo 3D y gemelos digitales está redefiniendo el futuro del patrimonio cultural. It is no longer just about preserving ruins, but rather crear experiencias vivas, accesibles y sustentables que transforman cómo aprendemos, enseñamos y valoramos nuestra historia.

En Foundtech, vemos con admiración el trabajo del INAH and share their vision. Just as they digitize codices and temples, we work to digitize and preserve the architectural knowledge of our era, with the same care and respect for every detail.

Want to bring millimetric precision 3D scanning to your project? Request a quote