MODERN METHODS FOR USING SINGLE IMAGES IN CONSERVATION 
Walter Schuhr and Erich Kanngieser 
University University 
for Applied Sciences for Applied Sciences 
Magdeburg Hamburg 
e-mail :schuhr3d@hotmail.com 
Homepage: http://stereoview.forU.de 
KEY WORDS: Conservation, Digital Facet Method, Image Archives, Monument Prediction, Simple Image Geometry, Single 
Images, Telescope-beam Platform, Video-based Tachymetry 
ABSTRACT 
As a submission of the Co-Chair of CIPA Task Group 2, this paper deals with practical experiences from using single images in 
conservation. 
In particular it deals with modern methods for using single images in conservation as gained from surveying the eldest houses of 
Parliaments of the Western hemisphere, which is part of the antique sites of Patara (Turkey). 
It is the main intention of this paper, to provide a photomap of the scale 1:20, which shall replace the old fashioned conventional 
archaeological stone maps, based on manual sketches and measurements, at least for objects showing almost plain surfaces. 
This has been carried out, by applying the French facet method in a modified digital manner. 
Therefore, the introduction into the area and the surveying task to be solved is consequently followed by discussing the advantages 
and disadvantages of traditional archaeological sketches versus extremely large scale photomaps. 
To obtain ground control, including regular grid points, video based Monument-Tachymetry successfully has been applied. 
Finally the photomap showing the scale 1 : 20, based on the digital Facet method, is generated by successive rectification of images 
or image parts, showing the 4 m x 4 m grid, as marked by color or colored sticks. This work will be followed up by mosaiking the 
final photo map. 
In this sample it is anticipated, the final photo map will contain some thousand stones of the antique ruin, mapped in the scale 1:20. 
1. INTRODUCTION INTO THE AREA AND THE SURVEYING TASK TO BE SOLVED 
This investigation has been carried out within the antique sites of Patara (Turkey), which currently even has been mentioned as a 
candidate for Plato’s lost Atlantis, situated on the Turkish Mediterranean coastal zone area , approximately on the opposite side of the 
isle of Rhodes (Greece). Recently the situation of an extremely huge antique king’s palace has been identified in Patara. According to 
Herododus, Patara, known as the birthplace of Apollo, and Delos seasonal changed in hosting the oracle of Apollo, comparable to the 
well known oracle of Delphi (Greece). There are 4 candidates for the Apollo temple of Patara, which is not yet verified. A coin, 
recently excavated in the Necropolis of Patara, shows the female oracle of Patara in action, as indicated by an owl, sitting on a ball, 
by a snake and a burning tree(aspergillum). Furthermore, high altitude photography shows ancient roads and terrace pattern, which 
indicate, at roman times Patara was an extremely huge town. According to Prof. Fahri Isik, Patara is at least comparable with 
Ephesus and Athens! It is reported, Patara saw the emperors Alexander of Macedonia as well as the roman emperor Trajan, saw 
Cleopatra’s lover Marc Antonio, as well as St. Peter, the first pope. Later Patara became the birthplace of Santa Claus, who mainly 
acted in the town of Myra, close to Patara. The exact birthplace of Santa Claus in Patara is still not identified. The early global map 
from Epstorf (Germany) seems to show walls of Patara like a fortress. 
Different Byzantine walls show periods of permanent reducing of the City of Patara, until a complete disappearing of the inhabitants. 
Due to extremely moving of sand dunes, see also Fig. 1, Patara’s proud ancient harbor lost access to the Mediterranean Sea. On the 
other hand, Patara’s dunes still cover large ancient parts of the town and thanks to this dunes, ancient parts of Patara are still 
conserved, even until the presence. Obviously the greatest parts of Patara have been destroyed by earthquakes and by war events. 
This research in particular is concentrating on the reconstruction of the remaining ruins of the largest antique houses of parliaments 
of the Western hemisphere, the so called Ecclesiaterion (“capitol”) or Bouleuterion (“town hall”) of Patara, the antique capital of the 
province Lycia, see Fig. 1. 
In this case the main reasons for a systematic surveying of that particular antique site are 
the documentation and interpretation of the archaelogists and 
the computer aided reconstruction of the ancient houses of parliaments in Patara. 
Important surveying results for different excavating epochs are finally the 3dimensional coordinates of the complete ancient object, 
traditionally carried out as 
maps in the scale 1:20, which show the situation and details of more than thousand remaining stones left around in the ruin 
field of the antique houses of parliaments and as 
a sufficient dense series of profiles, allowing to derive the complete height information needed, with sufficient accuracy and 
showing in particular all remaining parts of walls. 
As far as possible and as a contribution of CIPA Task Group 2, both tasks shall be solved using single images in conservation. 
Alternate surveying methods like Stereo Plotting and Laser scanning are not part of this investigations. 
According to Archaeologic traditions the object is covered with a 4x4m grid, see Fig. 2. 
This is a local grid, counting from the center of the object in Fig. 2 and along the object axis. The grid is verified by setting out the 
4x4 m pattern, putting wooden sticks of red color in the edges and not by using real perpendicular strings. 
Proceedings 18 th International Symposium CIPA 2001 
Potsdam (Germany), September 18 - 21, 2001