The Laboratory aims to introduce the basic information useful to approach, by using appropriate technologies and methodologies, the metric survey of the architectures and of the urban spaces.
Fundamental methods and metric survey techniques (2 CFU) and field’s applications (4 CFU) will be investigated: the "metric" meaning define the contribution of topographical and photogrammetric techniques that coincide with the English definition of "Metric Survey".
The shared topic of different instrumental methods that establish main learning objectives is the preliminary and final check of the metric an semantic quality of the information managed only by using digital technologies. The proposed approach is oriented to the acquisition, the modelling, and the representation of the investigated objects in accordance with the well-defined purposes.

The Laboratory aims to acquire theoretical and practical competencies to design a metric survey useful for the interpretative and descriptive requirements of the built space and of the interesting architectural objects. Particular attention is directed to the ability to proceed by using different Levels of Detail in the interpretation of the architectural to obtain a scaled model of the reality.

The expertise acquired during the first year of the course in Architecture are requested: more in detail the basic knowledge of the representation methods as defined by the critical interpretation of the architectural shape and the graphical norms for the adopted representation scales.

The metric survey methods and the technologies will be introduced by using their theoretical basics. They will be used to carry out architectural models and drawings in a vector environment and derived from 3D data archives in the practical part of the Laboratory.
Those methods and technologies are used by following guidelines defined in the Cultural Heritage documentation and today used by the professional activities: topographical methods based on the use of digital total stations; different software tools to process and manage numerical survey data; image ortho-rectification tools integrated in the survey process; manual and semi-automaic photogrammetric tools; 3D data management in CAD environment; representation and raster-vector integration.
Some basic consideration about image- matching based photogrammetric approaches (also known as photo-modelling) will be described beside the management of 3D point clouds, 3D modelling strategies and orthoprojection approaches.

The organisation of the Laboratory consists in theoretical lessons to face the theoretical basics of the metric survey techniques; they will be tested by means of a practical activity which allow to learn the basic on the acquisition of the primary data by using total stations and/or the primary data for a photogrammetric survey.
The acquired data will be managed by using specific software and, by using the elaborated information, image rectification and digital photogrammetry measurements will be realized to generate 2D drawings (e.g. plans, sections, elevations) and 3D models (e.g. point clouds or mesh models).
The results will be described by using panels to be realized during the practical sections of the Laboratory.

The teacher will furnish all the material used during the lessons and related notes about the theoretical arguments approached by using the web site of the Laboratory.
References related to general arguments and deep investigation on specific items will be given by the teacher during the lessons also by considering the specific example examined during the practical phase.

During the development of practical activity, the teacher will test the intermediate results of each of steps: metric survey, drawings and modelling of the architectural elements. This action is oriented to guarantee to the students to be able to face the final exams at the end of the teaching activities. The final evaluation will be based on the following tests, which contribute with the same weight to the final score:
• written test on the theoretical basics (individual evaluation)
• presentation and discussion of the 2D and 3D graphic deliverables produced by the student groups
Each student can upgrade his score by an optional oral dialogue on the theory and practice developed during the Laboratory activities.
The final evaluation will consider the results of the practice, written test, personal involvement in group activities and communication capability.