Dengfeng, Henan Province, China, August 15, 2025
News Summary
A research team produced a millimetre-accurate Heritage Building Information Model (HBIM) of the Main Hall at Chuzu Temple in Dengfeng, Henan. Using 1.1 billion-point terrestrial laser scans, roughly 3,000 drone images, manual measurement and archival records, they modelled complex Song‑dynasty timber elements and inferred hidden interlocking joints. Deliverables include a loadable Revit family library of 66 categories and 330 families, 23 deterioration drawings, unified point clouds and virtual tours via Unreal Engine. The HBIM captures geometry and condition data to support conservation, reuse on other timber heritage projects and regional HBIM standards.
Researchers create a detailed HBIM of the Song‑dynasty Main Hall at Chuzu Temple and deliver a reusable library of 66 family categories (330 families)
Summary
A multidisciplinary team has produced a comprehensive Heritage Building Information Model (HBIM) for the Main Hall of Chuzu Temple in Dengfeng, Henan Province, and assembled a reusable Revit family library of 66 categories comprising 330 individual families. The study, published in npj Heritage Science (volume 13, Article 399, 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s40494-025-01926-1), documents the surveying, modelling, and information-integration workflow used to capture the building’s current condition and enable future conservation, research, and virtual presentation.
Top findings and outputs
The project delivered a high-precision HBIM closely matching the as‑built condition, a structured family library for timber architecture, and a suite of non‑geometric records for condition assessment. Key deliverables include:
- HBIM model of the Song-dynasty (1125) Main Hall at Chuzu Temple with component-level detail.
- Family library: 12 major component types → 66 family categories → 330 loadable families for Revit reuse.
- Point clouds from TLS and UAV totaling ~1.1 billion points with millimetre‑level accuracy and RMSE of registration within 3 mm.
- 23 deterioration drawings documenting damage in timber beams, puzuo and roof elements.
- Virtual outputs: immersive scene in Unreal Engine and construction animation via Navisworks TimeLiner.
Why it matters
The Main Hall is part of the UNESCO‑listed cluster of historic monuments in Dengfeng and represents one of the closest surviving examples of Song construction methods recorded in the Yingzao Fashi. Timber architecture relies on complex interlocking joints (sunmao) and layered bracket sets (puzuo), which typical scan-to-BIM tools do not represent without expert inference. The project demonstrates a practical route to produce semantics-rich HBIMs fit for conservation planning, lifecycle management, virtual presentation and future reuse across similar heritage sites.
Surveying and data collection
Data acquisition combined multiple sources: terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), UAV photogrammetry, manual measurements, and archival documentation. TLS used a FARO Focus S70 with 110 scanning stations and a scanning resolution set to 6 mm, producing a unified point cloud of approximately 1.1 billion points. UAV surveys with a DJI Phantom 4 RTK captured about 3,000 images and used 10 control points; photogrammetric reconstruction accuracy was controlled to ±1 cm. Manual field measures filled gaps where occlusion or material reflectivity reduced point-cloud clarity.
HBIM workflow and modelling
The modelling workflow followed four steps: (1) multi‑source data collection; (2) creation of an architectural component family library; (3) geometric model construction in Autodesk Revit; (4) loading of non‑geometric information and deterioration records. Families were mostly created as loadable Revit types; in‑place families were used only where shapes depended on adjacent parts. The team defined seven vertical levels to align components and targeted LOD400 for timber beam frames, puzuo and roofs, and LOD300 for walls, doors/windows, and columns. Component placement and fitting to the point cloud maintained alignment deviations of no more than 3 mm.
Non‑geometric integration and condition data
Non‑geometric information—archival notes, repair histories, photographic records and annotated deterioration descriptions—was linked into the HBIM through family attributes, decals, and dedicated deterioration drawings. The team produced 23 detailed deterioration drawings and used Revit schedules to export condition data for analysis and maintenance planning.
Tools and interoperability
Key software included Autodesk Revit for HBIM authoring, FARO SCENE and Geomagic Studio for point-cloud processing and alignment, Context Capture for UAV reconstruction, 3ds Max and Twinmotion for supplemental modelling and materials, Unreal Engine for immersive display, and Navisworks TimeLiner for construction sequencing. The study recommends using IFC for cross‑platform exchange and highlights the need for regional HBIM standards to support heritage data sharing.
Practical recommendations and limitations
The authors recommend combining point cloud data with repair drawings and expert analysis for timber buildings, maintaining at least 2 m scanning clearances, and assembling mixed teams for field and post‑processing. They note limitations: mainstream BIM platforms lack built‑in timber heritage libraries, full automation of timber HBIM remains challenging, and cloud/lightweight deployment requires careful semantic-preservation strategies.
Project metadata
- Article: HBIM for the protection and management: a case study of Chinese timber architectural heritage
- Journal: npj Heritage Science, vol. 13, Article 399 (2025)
- DOI: 10.1038/s40494-025-01926-1
- Received: 19 March 2025; Accepted: 01 July 2025; Published: 14 August 2025
- License: CC BY‑NC‑ND 4.0
- Datasets: available from the corresponding authors on reasonable request
Context of the building
The Main Hall at Chuzu Temple sits at coordinates 34°30′N, 112°55′E. The complex occupies about 3,000 m² with a two‑courtyard, north–south layout, 49 steles and 14 ancient trees. The hall’s near‑square plan is three bays by three bays and features an xieshan (gable‑and‑hip) roof, octagonal stone columns and layered puzuo systems that closely match Song‑era construction records.
FAQ
What is HBIM and why was it used here?
HBIM stands for Heritage Building Information Modeling. It was used to create a structured, machine‑readable representation of the Main Hall’s geometry, materials, condition records and construction logic to support conservation, analysis and digital presentation.
How accurate is the data?
TLS and UAV data were processed to millimetre and centimetre levels: the final TLS point cloud reached millimetre‑level accuracy (~1.1 billion points) with registration RMSE within 3 mm; UAV reconstruction was controlled to ±1 cm.
What does the family library include?
The library contains 330 Revit families across 66 categories organized into 12 major types such as platform, puzuo, upper beams, purlins, decorations, tiles and ridges. Families are loadable and intended for reuse in other Chinese timber HBIM projects.
Can this HBIM be used for structural analysis or monitoring?
The current model integrates geometry and condition data and is suitable as a basis for future tasks such as structural simulation, microclimate monitoring and IoT integration, but additional sensor and engineering data would be needed for structural analysis.
Are the point clouds and models publicly available?
Datasets are available from the corresponding authors on reasonable request; published outputs and documentation are under a CC BY‑NC‑ND 4.0 license.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Case study building | Main Hall, Chuzu Temple (Song Dynasty, 1125). UNESCO Dengfeng cluster. Coordinates: 34°30′N, 112°55′E. |
| HBIM outputs | Geometric HBIM, 330 Revit families, 23 deterioration drawings, virtual tour and construction animation. |
| Survey data | TLS (FARO Focus S70, 110 stations, ~1.1B points, RMSE ≤ 3 mm); UAV (DJI Phantom 4 RTK, ~3,000 images, ±1 cm). |
| Software | FARO SCENE, Geomagic Studio, Context Capture, Autodesk Recap, Revit, Navisworks, 3ds Max, Twinmotion, Unreal Engine. |
| LOD targets | Timber frames/puzuo/roof: LOD400. Walls/doors/windows/columns: LOD300. |
| License & publication | npj Heritage Science (2025), DOI: 10.1038/s40494-025-01926-1. License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Nature: HBIM of Chuzu Temple (article)
- Wikipedia: Building information modeling
- Nature: Article figures — Figure 1
- Google Search: Song dynasty timber architecture puzuo Yingzao Fashi
- Nature: Article PDF
- Google Scholar: HBIM Chuzu Temple
- Nature: Supplementary information
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Yingzao Fashi
- Nature: Data availability / Author contact
- Google News: Heritage BIM timber China HBIM
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