Virtual Hawara
This is comprehensive documentation and recording of the Hawara Pyramid and Labyrinth that utilises virtual heritage technologies, including laser scanning, aerial survey and satellite imaging to reconstruct the historic site and its environmental and geological properties.
To preserve the historic site, our work started with undertaking detailed surveys and accurate analysis of the historic structure, its behaviour and response to geological and environmental changes. Then, several layers were brought together and overlaid to build a detailed and accurate virtual model of the Hawara Pyramid.
This work has led to the creation of an accurate 3D Cloud-point model of the pyramid and its surrounding topography in order to digitally survey, record and model the existing conditions of the site and to assist with conservation efforts. The completed model has been georeferenced and layered in a Geographic Information System with datasets for underground features, levels of erosion, subsurface water levels and archaeological finds. The parametric data needed for the model, along with panoramic images for texturisation are being captured on a Trimble TX6 Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) instrument in a number of operations and positions (stations) across the site. Millimetre exact data can be captured as far away as 80mts from the station at a rate of 500,000 points per second creating a realistic digital model with a high level of accuracy.
Based on an intensive exploration of historic records and archeoligcalists' narratives over the past centuries, and supported by on-site verification of these historical accounts, the site of the pyramid of Howrah was completely reconstructed with the aim of producing speculation of the site during the Middle Kingdom and Roman Times. Models of the Labyrinth were created providing the opportunity to travel through time to explore this extraordinary archaeological site, the most visited sites of the ancient world.
HeritageCAVE
HeritageCAVE is a comprehensive and multi-layered methodology that uses digital and virtual heritage technology in recording and documenting historic sites, with overlaid datasets of historic narratives. The HeritageCAVE conceptual framework was developed by Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem at Nottingham Trent University and has been used to record and interact with historic, archaeological and heritage sites ahcross the globe.