Abstract Preservation of urban heritage is one of the main challenges for contemporary society. It’s closely connected with several dimensions: global-local rhetoric, cultural tourism, armed conflicts, immigration, cultural changes, investment flows, new transport infrastructures and etc. Nowadays very often organizations responsible for heritage management constantly have to deal with lack of resources, which are crucial for proper heritage preservation, maintaining and protection. Particularly it is problematic for countries with low GDP or unstable political situation. The possible solution of these problems could be automated heritage monitoring software system, based on the 3D technologies. The system prototype was developed and tested by Vilnius University and Terra Modus Ltd. in frame of project “Creation of automated urban heritage monitoring software prototype”. Project financed by Lithuanian Council for Culture. At this paper will present the main results of the project. 3D scanning technology is the most accurate method to capture the situation of an evolving cultural heritage object or complex at a given time. As a cultural heritage object or complex is evolving continuously, two 3D point clouds created at different time allow to reliably trace potential changes. Monitoring of large scale heritage complexes such as urban heritage objects is a resource demanding task and in such cases automatic computer-based 3D visual analysis is appropriate. Comparison of 3D visual data captured in different time advances to next level when utilizing methods of 3D photogrammetry which make it possible (at least partially) to create 3D point clouds from old photos, giving us opportunities to expand research by adding empirical data captured before 3D scanning equipment and also lowering costs to conduct such research.
