A framework for using handheld 3D surface scanners in quantifying the volumetric tufa growth

The emergence of handheld 3D surface scanners can play an important role in improving the understanding of tufa formation dynamics. For the first time, volumetric tufa growth was calculated using the Artec Eva handheld 3D scanner. Volumetric tufa growth was measured on two limestone plates (PLs) which were installed near the Roški waterfall (National park Krka, Croatia). Tufa volumetric growth was calculated from 3D models in Artec Studio 14 Professional. The applicability of Artec Eva in the measurement of small objects (25 cm²) was tested by comparing the volume of PL with a reference "true" value measured with Artec Space Spider. The mean volumetric tufa growth for the Roški waterfall site was 1490,02 mmᶟ in six months period. Although initially Artec Eva is not intended for measurement of small objects, it can be used if the dimensions of the PLs on which the volumetric growth is slightly bigger. Artec Eva overestimated the PL volume by only 904.66 mmᶟ or 6.38%. This new approach uses handheld 3D surface scanners and high-quality 3D models providing the alternative and user-friendly method for studying tufa formation dynamics.