The utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, is an area of rapidly evolving technology. UAVs have become increasingly accessible for tasks such as urban planning and historic preservation, offering a lower cost and simpler entry requirements for new pilots compared to traditional airborne and satellite platforms. The application of 3D modeling is widespread across various sectors, and currently, there is a growing trend of employing 3D modeling technologies in the conservation of historical sites. Detailed and precise 3D representations of buildings may raise ethical concerns in their development. For instance, researchers have highlighted the potential for limitations and misrepresentations in digital 3D models of buildings. Drone photogrammetry provides advanced methods for capturing existing structures in greater detail.

One important application of UAV photogrammetry is damage assessment and reconstruction of cities [32]. Building destruction is a common byproduct of war and natural disaster. It is very often the case that original drawings and pictures that directly reflect the original appearance of the buildings cannot be found. Therefore, researchers can only use other materials to compare and restore them step by step. In this context, UAVs can be applied to a city’s post-war reconstruction; photogrammetry allows researchers to create highly accurate models of ancient buildings and antiquities, while 3D models provide comprehensive digital data for infrastructure repair. Remarkably, despite the evident potential of UAVs in this domain, there is a surprising lack of scholarly articles specifically addressing this application. Further research and exploration in this area could significantly enhance the understanding and utilization of UAV photogrammetry for urban reconstruction endeavors.

A number of studies have focused on using UAVs to map and model cultural heritage objects, urban spaces, and disaster sites with the goal of preserving, managing, and reconstructing historical sites in the future. While several studies have discussed the advantages of oblique photogrammetry over vertical photogrammetry in achieving higher accuracy in mapping, others have emphasized the necessity of developing systems that incorporate advanced technologies, such as 360∘° cameras and LiDAR technology, in order to generate precise representations of real-world environments [33].