Exploring the Use of LiDAR in Smartphones: Documenting the Frontispiece of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Ouro Preto, Brazil

The recent integration of LiDAR into smartphones has become a catalyst for digitizing the built environment, presenting novel opportunities for documenting architectural heritage or its components. This article delves into the application of LiDAR technology in Apple devices, specifically integrated into iPhones. The study elucidates the most relevant applications, characteristics, best practices, advantages, and disadvantages through a Systematic Literature Review. Later, it takes as a case study a highly significant monument, the frontispiece of the 18th-century baroque Saint Francis of Assisi Church, which carries the artistic essence of Aleijadinho, a prominent Brazilian sculptor. The study examines two different scanning mobile applications and compares the point cloud obtained in the process. This approach has facilitated the 3D scanning and acquisition of the upper part of the frontispiece, subsequently strengthening the dissemination of its cultural heritage and enhancing the efficiency of preservation initiatives for this UNESCO World Heritage-listed monumental church.