complets et 
77 
THE ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PHOTOGRAMMETRICAL 
EXPERIENCES IN GREECE AND MIDDLE ASIA 
Giorgio Bezoari 
Politécnico di Milano. Dip. LLAR. sez. Rilevamento 
p.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32. 20133 Milano (ITALY) 
Commission VL Working Group 3 
KEY WORDS: Education. Surveying. Close - Range Photogrammetiy . 
ABSTRACT 
During some survey campaigns led in Armenia and in Greece respectively, we applied different terrestrial 
photogrammetrical techniques in order to supply with a quite exhaustive and significant documentation of these 
systems. 
In the first case the relief object is a monumental complex of great importance, not only for the history of the Armenian 
architecture, but also for the architectural world estate. 
The monument was damaged by an earthquake and the relief processes are a valid support for the realization of the 
restoration project. 
The further applications of the terrestial photogrammetrical techniques are particularly suitable for the study of 
archaeological finds such as remains of ancient walls located in Greece. 
The research on an Armenian monument, keeping in 
mind the real operative conditions, underlined an 
interesting experience that has revalued the traditional 
knowledge in Armenia, that was also an example of the 
most sophisticate Italian technologies, not only for the 
survey techniques but also for the restoration project 
based on tables realised while the survey campaign was 
taking place. 
In order to perform the following conservation project 
elaboration of the Marmashen complex main church, for 
the execution of the metric relief we assumed to use the 
1:50 scale, suitable for the work we intended to carry' out 
in a project phase and also for the quite short time of the 
surv ey campaign. 
The metrical survey has been planned to obtain 
information on the state of the monumental complex and 
its dimensional characteristics, paying also attention on 
the checking of the local materials, and to their use. but 
also on the decay of the materials selves. 
In occasion of this intervention we applied to both 
photogrammetrical and topographical rigorous 
methodologies, besides the usual manual survey and "on 
sight" usual ones. A so differentiated survey approach has 
been functional to another aim too: showing the practise 
of the monument survey in Italy to Armenian architects 
skilled at restoration. 
The topographic survey 
The planimétrica! survey of the church was performed 
beginning with a close poligonal net. We used in this case 
the theodolite Wild T2 ( accuracy ± 0L 0001) and the 
distantiometcr Wild DI4 (accuracy ± 5 mm). 
After that we realized the detail survey employing the 
same topographic instruments and some simple 
The architectural survey 
Among the photogrammetrical survey experiences led in 
the last years, it is worth to mention the one carried out 
with a survey campaign in the archaeological field and 
the other one led in the restoration activity' of a 
monument within the list of the general Board for the 
Preservation and the Fruition of the Monuments in 
Armenia. 
Beginning with the last one. it deals with the main church 
of Marmashen. the monastic complex of X-XIII century, 
placed in one of the most injured area by the eartquake in 
1988. North-West from the town of Koumairi (already' 
called Leninakan). on the left bank of the river Axurian. 
at almost 1.500 metres on the sea level (fig. 1 ) 
Fig. 1 - The monumental complex of Marmashen 
The choice of the Marmashen church has been 
determined by the importance of this monument, not only 
for the history of the Armenian architecture, but also for 
the architectural world estate.