Mapping Paphos
In June, four researchers travelled to the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus to commence a documentation and mapping project of the archeological ruins in Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. CIMS was contracted by the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) – world leaders in conservation, based out of Los Angeles, California – to complete digital documentation and to produce detailed maps of the archeological site. This was a project involving many different partners from all over the world, combining expertise in mosaics, archaeology, and digital documentation.
The CIMS team completed three weeks of onsite documentation in order to capture the current state of the site: tile mosaics, complex caverns, ancient ruins, and modern components. Perhaps the most significant feature of the site, as described by the UNESCO World Heritage submission, is the impressive collection of Roman-era mosaics. These mosaics are extremely rare and considered to be among the finest in the world. The aim of the project is to facilitate the conservation planning of these mosaics and the broader conservation and management of Nea Paphos.
Despite being a World Heritage site, complete maps are not available. CIMS was tasked to produce high-quality maps using the data gathered while on site and also by consolidating the existing data captured by the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, and other universities and institutions. The primary deliverable is a geographic information system (GIS) platform, incorporating topographic maps, line drawings, and ortho-photos of the site and mosaics.
To create the maps, the entire site was recorded with a drone flown at a height of 50m, and specific areas of interest were further mapped at 20m or 10m, depending on the required level of detail. The interior mosaics were photographed by hand, and the 3D scanner was used to further supplement the documentation done by the drone. The terrestrial laser scanner captured areas which are unable to be seen by the drone, integrating hidden and underground features into the surface mapping. Specifically, this included areas inside buildings, below trees, and inside tunnels, caves, etc. In addition to those already captured, there is a large number of underground spaces that will be integrated into Phase Two of the project, to be completed in 2019.
The GIS platform is able to compile the various drone flights, ortho-photos and 3D scans using strategically measured GPS points and total station measurements. First, GPS control points were measured throughout the entire site. From these control points, the total station was used to measure other points, creating a network throughout the entire site. The network includes natural features for the aerial photogrammetry, points on the mosaics for the terrestrial photogrammetry, and also target locations for integration of the 3D scans.
Currently, the team is working on this compilation, first processing the individual maps, ortho-photos, and point clouds all referenced to the network. Next, these are to be compiled into the GIS platform.
