Close-Range Photo Gramme Try - Cultural Heritage

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Case study

Importance of digital close-range photogrammetry indocumentation of cultural heritage

H.M. Yilmaz a,*, M. Yakar b, S.A. Gulec c, O.N. Dulgerler c

a Department of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, Engineering Faculty, Aksaray University, 68100 Aksaray, Turkeyb Department of Geodesy an d Photogammetry, Engineering Faculty, Selcuk University, 42120 Konya, Turkey

c Department of Architecture, Engineering Faculty, Selcuk Univer sity, 42120 Konya, Turkey

Received 16 November 2006; accepted 5 July 2007

Abstract

It is an indisputable reality that the most important thing for transmitting cultural heritage to posterity is a sensitive documentation. Up to the

present there have been many developments in documentation of cultural heritage by developing technology, and contemporary documentation

techniques have progressed speedily. In time, modern methods have become preferable to conventional methods in architecture generally in the

existent state and in determination of deformations and preparation of measured drawing projects of historical edifices. Digital and 3D data, rich

visual images obtained by digital close-range photogrammetry, and orthophoto images of edifices, are governed and shepherded in documen-

tation and future conservation projects. Also, these methods supply much ease, precision and time-saving in measured drawing projects

when compared with conventional methods. In this study, contributions of digital close-range photogrammetry to measured drawing projects

were evaluated. A historical building, which had been exposed to fire two times in Konya (Turkey), was photographed and its situation before

and after the fire was demonstrated. In addition, the buildings measured drawings of facade and its 3D model were completed using digital

close-range photogrammetry. The buildings present status and its reconstruction project is indicated and how digital close-range photogramme-

try contributes to measured drawing, reconstruction and restoration projects is presented. Furthermore, the significance of present-day use ofdigital close-range photogrammetry in the acquisition of data and preparation of measured drawing projects for historical buildings is empha-

sized. This study has been completed by photogrammetrists, architects, urban planners and restorers.

2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Photogrammetry; Documentation; Historical buildings; Cultural Heritage; Conservation

1. Introduction

Monuments are undeniable documents of world history.Their thorough study is an obligation of our era to mankinds

past and future [1,2]. Conservation of cultural heritage is

a major issue for modern societies, both from economical

and cultural viewpoints. Culture and heritage play a vital

role in the development of the individual and the collective

development of a people. In addition to providing cultural,

aesthetic and spiritual satisfaction, culture and heritage are

of interest in terms of economics [3,4].Historic structures and sites reveal the events, the problems,

and the progress of the past. They present an opportunity to

visualize the lives of the people before us. But every year

some of these historic structures disappear, lost to future gen-

erations due to the ravages of fire [5]. Computerized methods

and close-range photogrammetry are proposed as a preventive

method which allows us to detect, measure and track the tem-

poral evolution of some structural problems [6].

In the past few years, image analysis has grown more and

more important for applications that concern study, modelling

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 90 382 215 0341; Fax: 90 382 215 0592. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (H.M. Yilmaz), yakar@selcuk.

edu.tr (M. Yakar), [email protected] (S.A. Gulec), [email protected]

(O.N. Dulgerler).

1296-2074/$ - see front matter 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

doi:10.1016/j.culher.2007.07.004

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

Journal of Cultural Heritage 8 (2007) 428e433http://france.elsevier.com/direct/CULHER/
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://france.elsevier.com/direct/CULHERhttp://france.elsevier.com/direct/CULHERmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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and preservation of cultural heritage [7]. They present better

volumetric perception of an edifice and its surroundings and

also give more details about the description of materials con-

stituting the historic monuments and sites.

In this study, the significance of documentation for archi-

tectures and the role of digital close-range photogrammetry

in transmitting cultural heritage to the next generations, andthe place of digital close-range photogrammetry in the authen-

tication of historical edifices are emphasized. Also, for the

architect, the aim of documentation and the use of digital

close-range photogrammetry in architecture is explained. In

addition, documentation of a particular building, which was

exposed to fire two times in Konya, by digital close-range pho-

togrammetry and its current reuse planned by its reconstruc-

tion project, is demonstrated.

2. Documenting cultural heritage

The view of cultural heritage is closely consistent with thatof UNESCO, enunciated in the 1972 Convention for the

Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage [1,8,9].

UNESCO (1946) and the Council of Europe have formed

specialized organizations for conservation of cultural heri-

tages. ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and

Sites) is the most important one, but also CIPA (Interna-

tional Committee for Architectural Photogrammetry), ISPRS

(International Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sens-

ing), ICOM (International Council for Museums), ICCROM

(International Centre for the Conservation and Restoration

of Monuments) and UIA (International Union of Architects)

are all involved in conservation task of cultural heritages[1].

Documentation is a complex process that includes stages of

data acquisition, interpretation, and production. It is the first

and most important step before starting to conserve projects

and works. A short definition of it is the recording of the ex-

istent state and surroundings of the building by reports, draw-

ings and photographs.

During the documentation and recording, knowledge about

the building can be capitalized upon using old photographs, old

maps, old drawings and projects, civil and personal archives,

pictures and gravures, archaeological data and travel notes.

For documentation of an important historical building in the

field of architecture, it must be worth preserving. For this,

the building must have the features like the following.

To testify to a historical event in the past To have the original and characteristic quality (authenticity) To have worth of continuity (maintain its original function

today)

To have a legitimate documentation from the past To be unique from the technical or structural point

of view

To have artistic or technical worth To have functional worth

To have traditional worth

2.1. Importance of documentation and photogrammetry

in cultural heritage

Very important knowledge regarding life style, space re-

quirements and solutions, building policies, social relations,

economic levels, the level of the building technique, level of

technology, art perceptiveness, building equilibria, and alter-ations in social life of the past generations can be acquired

from historical buildings.

Documentation is necessary for:

Transmitting cultural heritage to next generation Making the building alive by using it in contemporary

manner

Obtaining correct data for future plans Determination of the problems in historical building and in

historical site or monument

Acquisition of knowledge about the history of the building

Before embarking on any intervention, the restorer mustreach a deep and complete knowledge of cultural property,

the existing situation before the restoration in order to deter-

mine problems in the buildings structural system, decays in

materials, deformations, distortions, and interventions, evalua-

tion of damage, the analysis of the fissures, determining anom-

alies besides the history of construction [10].

National and international studies connected with digital

close-range photogrammetry that have already been made

have enhanced its reputation and also have expanded its usage

fields in architecture.

Digital close-range photogrammetry is used in:

determining of historical and archaeological value of thebuilding,

defining and obtaining measured drawing and facades ofthe building,

in preparation and application of urban conservation plans, modality and structure research, interior designs, determining deformation, evaluation of damage, analysis

of the decay, deformation and anomalies, and fissuring,

controlling the situation of the building before and afterrestoration,

making a building numerical by determining coordinatesin architecture [11].

The most widespread usage of photogrammetry has been

for the representation of the facades or elevations of historic

buildings and structure. By improving digital techniques, dig-

ital close-range photogrammetry has become a more efficient

and more economic method. Obtained 3D solid or textured

images help us to understand sophisticated and complex build-

ings more easily [12].

In some situations, two-dimensional drawings may be inad-

equate in order to understand the building and its surround-

ings, but visual presentations prepared by digital close-range

photogrammetry and arrangements in CAD programs make

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http://france.elsevier.com/direct/CULHER


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the model more explanatory and more supportive of the buil-

dings situation. These studies are a great help to architects.

One of the most important advantages of using digital

close-range photogrammetry to supply documentation is in

measuring dangerous or inaccessible areas, very high or low

buildings, or part of these buildings. It is a major aid in obtain-

ing the required measurement of the parts of the building fromthe photograph. Regarding documentation, these data can be

used again in the future, can be shared with other users, and

are easy to store on computer [6,13e16].

3. Documenting techniques in cultural heritage

The documentation of a cultural heritage may be defined

as [9]: The action of acquiring, processing, presenting and re-

cording the necessary data for the determination of the posi-

tion and the actual existing form, shape and size of

a monument in the three-dimensional space at a particular

given moment in time. The geometric documentation records

the present situation of the monuments, as has been shapedin the course of time and is the necessary background for

the studies of their past, as well as the studies for their

future.

Today in documentation of cultural heritages the following

methods are applied:

Simple topometric methods for partially or totally uncon-trolled surveys

Surveying and photogrammetric methods for completelycontrolled surveys

In architecture making a physical definition of a buildingstarts with measured drawing studies and photographic docu-

mentation, and continues with an analytical survey. Analytical

survey is not only measuring but also aims to assign the buil-

dings constitution, and its alteration and conversion process

[17].

Measured drawing works to measure and state the layout,

cross-section and all details of the building and to state these

in two-dimensional architectural terms. What is important here

is the existent situation of the building and if there are addi-

tions or deficiencies that must be defined in all of these

drawings.

Photographic documentation records the present position of

the building by photographs. Digital photography as analytical

technology is advantageous because it shares the digital tech-

nology attributes of automation and provides time economy.

Photography has a long and significant role in historic docu-

mentation [18].

3.1. Mathematical basics of digital

close-range photogrammetry

Digital close-range photogrammetry measures objects di-

rectly from photographs or digital images captured with

a camera at close range [12,19]. The basic model in digital

close-range photogrammetry is the central perspective

projection. The primary coordinate system is positioned

arbitrarily in object space; while the secondary system has

its origin at the perspective camera center O, its z-axis coin-

cides with the principal axis and is directed away from the

projection (image) plane (Fig. 1). The scale factor is set to

unity.

In the primary system we have the coordinates of the per-

spective center, O, and an object point in space, A:

(X0,Y0,Z0) and (XA,YA,ZA), respectively. The projection of A,

through O, in the image plane, expressed in the secondary sys-

tem, gives the coordinates of point a: (xa,ya,c), where c is theprincipal distance (sometimes called effective focal length),

between O and the principal point, PP. Points A and a are

called homologous. Thus, we have: XA X0 (m)Rtxa,

where m is a positive scalar quantity proportional to the object

distance from A to O.

Fig. 1. The central perspective projection.

Fig. 2. The original situation of the building.

430 H.M. Yilmaz et al. / Journal of Cultural Heritage 8 (2007) 428e433


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The reverse transform is then given as

24

xayac

35 m1

24g11 g21 g31

g12 g22 g32

g13 g23 g33

3524

XA X0YA Y0

ZA Z0

35 1

Note that the vectors (XA X0), xa are collinear but of oppo-site sense.

The 3rd equation of the reverse transform above can be

written explicitly in terms of the scaling m and substituted in

the other two equations, leading to the collinearity equations:

xa cg11X0 XA g12Y0 YA g13Z0 ZA

g31X0 XA g32Y0 YA g33Z0 ZA

ya cg21X0 XA g22Y0 YA g23Z0 ZA

g31X0 XA g32Y0 YA g33Z0 ZA

2

4. Case study

The building is located on Konya (Figs. 2e8). It was built

in the 18th century and has two storeys. Accidentally, this

study has begun to teach photogrammetric methods to engi-

neering faculty students. A historical building has been se-

lected to evaluate photogrammetric procedures. For this

purpose, photographs have been taken and control points

have been surveyed according to photogrammetric evaluation

techniques. However, about one year later the historical build-

ing was burnt down two times. A restoration project by the

conservation office of Turkey has been needed to reconstructthe historical building. There were no drawings, measurements

or other documentation with which to start restoration projects

except for students studies. It was obligatory that a restoration

project be started by the photogrammetrists to determine the

Fig. 3. The situations of the building after the first and second fire.

Fig. 4. Control points on photograph. Fig. 5. Drawing of the facade by digital close-range photogrammetry.



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original status and measurements of building. After the second

fire, it was measured again to determine the changes and latest

conditions of the building. Photomodeler software was used

for the photogrammetric process.

After the processing, drawings were obtained in Photomod-

eler software. All measurements and drawings were exported

to dxf format for the architects. These drawings helped to pre-

pare the reconstruction project of this building. After the mea-

sured drawing projects, a reconstruction project for the

building was drawn in Autocad and was also rendered. Digital

close-range photogrammetry was considerably useful for ana-

lyzing material decay and determining the deformations on theoriels. The reconstruction project was drawn by expert archi-

tects. A three-dimensional project model was rendered. Its

construction works were completed according to the original

measurements. The building is now functional once again

and is used as a company office building.

5. Conclusions

Cultural heritage protection is a key matter today world-

wide. There has been an increase in public awareness over re-

cent years that these kinds of monuments constitute an

important part of our past. There are innumerable cultural her-

itage sites all over the world. Preservation and documentation

of these is an important matter.

It is obvious that using digital close-range photogrammetryhas many advantages in the documentation and conservation

of cultural heritage. Using a 3D model in order to compare

the buildings situation before and after restoration and analysis

of alterations in the constitution of the buildings interventions

up to date is a very significant input for both architects and

restorers. In transmitting the cultural heritage to the next gener-

ations the preparation of measured drawing, restitution, a recon-

struction project and the place and the sensitivity of the

documentation is considerably important. Correct documenta-

tion is necessary not only for posterity but also in functionality

in contemporary usage and re-evaluation of the historical

buildings.Photogrammetry uses only photographs and mathematical

equations. These are important in view of correct and accurate

measurement of cultural heritage. In addition, it is possible to

evaluate the situation after the restoration. Photogrammetry

has much more superiority over traditional methods in restora-

tion projects. Dangerous and unreachable buildings, like the

one mentioned here destroyed by fire, can be accurately mea-

sured by Photogrammetric methods easily and safely.

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Fig. 6. Drawing of the 3D model by digital close-range photogrammetry.

Fig. 7. Rendered model of the building.

Fig. 8. The reconstructed situation of the building.

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Close-Range Photo Gramme Try - Cultural Heritage