Virtual Reality Model of the Northern Sluice of the Ancient Dam in Marib/Yemen by Combination of Digital Photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Archaeological Applications

Abstract

In this paper the potential of digital photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning in combination is demonstrated in the recording and 3D CAD construction of the northern sluice of the ancient dam in Marib/Yemen, which is located approx. 150 kilometre east of the capital city Sana'a, close to the inner Arabic desert. The Yemeni government proposed for initiation of the building into the list of the UNESCO world cultural heritage. This described project work is a co-operation between the Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures (KAAK) Bonn of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) and the department Geomatics of the HafenCity University Hamburg. The object recording was carried out in January 2006 with the digital SLR camera Fujifilm FinePix S2 pro and the terrestrial laser scanner Trimble GS100 during the archaeological excavations. The northern sluice was reconstructed and visualized as a computer-based 3D CAD model for archaeological investigations (as-built-documentation of the excavations) and for future tourism advertising and publication purposes.

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