The use of UAVs and photogrammetry for the documentation of cultural heritage monuments: The case study of the churches in Cyprus

Abstract

Innovative technologies provide an accurate, simple and cost-effective method of documenting cultural heritage sites and generating digital 3D models using novel techniques and innovative methods. These digital 3D models can then be saved in a central database that can be accessed by end users. The project "Digital unblocking of holy islands" proposes digital service requires the creation of digital infrastructure and its enrichment with culturally digital evidence and data, in order to serve as an information hub for the management and promotion of ecclesiastical cultural heritage. The internal and external digitization of ecclesiastical monuments will be carried out using several methods, including images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and photogrammetry. Hundreds of images from the monument will be taken using a UAV with an attached high-resolution camera. The images will then be processed through photogrammetry to provide a digital model of the church. The use of digital technology to document cultural heritage within a structure, creates a dynamic database and valuable resource to better understand the cultural heritage monument, as end-users will be able to access the information from the digital platform at any time. This research is supported by the project entitled: "Navigators of Cultural Heritage Digitization of Churches of Cyprus and Crete" referred as "Digital unblocking of holy islands" and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)and by national funds of Greece and Cyprus, under the Cooperation Programme "INTERREG V-A GreeceCyprus 2014-2020"