123D Catch: efficiency, accuracy, constraints and limitations in architectural heritage field

Today, the accurate and detailed reconstruction of geometric models of real objects has become a common process. The diffusion of Image-based 3D modeling techniques, through image-based free, low cost and open source software, have increased drastically in the past few years, especially in the sector of Cultural Heritage (Architecture, Archeology, Urban planning). Nevertheless, web based software (ARC3D, 123D Catch, Hyp3D, my3Dscanner) offer another opportunity respect the desktop systems: they use the power of cloud computing to carry out a semi-automatic data processing. In this way is overcome the considerably slowing-down of the computer of hardware-heavy approaches. Our research investigates the limits and potentialities of 3D models obtained by using Autodesk 123D Catch in Architectural Heritage field, in order to verify the applicability of the method for the practitioner purpose. Our goal is to evaluate Catch efficiency, accuracy, constraints and limitations in order to provide insight into the current state of 3D modeling products. Our methodology forecasts the comparison between 123D Catch models and terrestrial laser scanner 3D acquisition in order to verify metric accuracy. Therefore, we propose a lot of interesting examples applied in architectural heritage field from the detail to the large scale.