The use of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) for documenting and storing information aimed at built heritage preservation has become an established practice since the advent of Building Information Modelling (BIM). However, being originally developed to represent new buildings, practitioners face challenges when dealing with complex historic architecture.
This work addresses this issue by systematically comparing different modelling techniques considering geometric accuracy, time efficiency, and flexibility. Parametric modelling, NURBS modelling, and mesh generation were evaluated taking as case study the vaults of a Portuguese Late Gothic monument.
Rather than recommending a single approach, the findings indicate that comprehensive heritage digital representation benefits from integration, using parametric modelling as the HBIM foundation, strategically complemented by other techniques according to specific objectives. This is due to results demonstrating distinctive strengths across techniques: parametric modelling allows the establishment of relational connections between architectural elements with high adaptability; NURBS facilitates mathematically precise surfaces through defined curves and control points; while mesh representation provides exceptional documentation fidelity.
Therefore, modelling selections should be driven by project requirements with careful consideration of the model’s intended purpose. These results provide heritage professionals a valuable guidance while highlighting the need for improved interoperability between complementary techniques, enhancing the capacity to document and preserve architectural heritage.