From TLS of ruins to HBIM model. Heritage documentation and conceptual reconstruction of medieval church

Digital tools are playing an increasingly important role in documenting, analysing, and reconstructing cultural heritage. This study presents the case of the medieval Church of St. Joseph on Zobor Hill (Slovakia) as an example of how such technologies can be effectively applied. High-precision terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to generate a detailed point cloud, providing a digital record of the current state of the ruins. The TLS data served as the basis for an integrated survey, structural analysis, and unsupervised classification, and were subsequently implemented into a Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) environment. The resulting parametric 3D model enabled a conceptual reconstruction of the church, combining geometric precision with historical and architectural interpretation. Historical sources, comparative analysis of regional medieval structures, and expert knowledge were employed to refine the reconstruction hypotheses. This project not only enhanced understanding of the church’s original form and function but also demonstrated the potential of HBIM as a tool for interdisciplinary heritage research. The integration of HBIM with architectural-historical methods creates new opportunities for research, conservation, and public engagement in the digital realm.