Collaborating institution & subvention: (Technocité, Belgium)
Partner: Riwaq (Ramallah, Palestine)
In November 2007, on an initiative by Technocité and Riwaq, the AlICe laboratory offered a training program with the ambition of introducing a Palestinian team, active in heritage conservation, to advanced 3D survey technologies.
The goal was to endow participants with sufficient knowledge to reproduce models that perfectly matched the studied architectural objects, using minimal technical and financial resources. Beyond the digital footprint provided by these processes, the virtual model also offers essential information for building restoration work. The aim was to make the group self-sufficient in both survey campaigns and the use of image-based modeling techniques. These techniques allow for the extraction of metric and colorimetric properties of the studied architectural object from photogrammetric surveys. This extraction serves as the basis for 3D modeling.
The site under study was Al Taybeh, a former Christian village located 14 kilometers from Ramallah. Due to its rich and relatively homogeneous heritage, this village provides a unique testimony to different periods in Palestine’s history. Remnants ranging from a Crusader castle to Ottoman-influenced dwellings can still be observed. The survey and modeling work thus focused on reproducing the existing state. The resulting 3D model includes a cluster of houses and ruins situated on the castle site. In addition to its technical dimension, the 3D model also serves as a valuable communication tool for heritage stakeholders. This project and training took place in two stages: one in Palestine for data acquisition and the other in Brussels for data processing and modeling.