An Integrated 3D-GIS for an Inventory of the Historic Monuments ... 
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2. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE HISTORIC MONUMENTS OF SOUTHERN MOROCCO 
The general objective of the inventory is a systematic survey of the historic monuments of the Drâa Valley. This inventory is aimed 
at documentation but also at restoration and revitalisation of the monuments. Such an inventory requires a definition of the objects to 
be documented as well as a definition of the manner in which they have to be described. 
When going into more details on the objects to be surveyed, one notes that they are small citadels, small villages — the ksour - and 
isolated fortified castles - the kasbahs; they are built out of earth. These agglomerations were designed to be defended in an optimal 
way, i.e. they are surrounded by walls with defence towers. The interior of these ksour shows a network of systematic lanes including 
some open places, intended to be used for meetings and as market places. 
The principles of Berber and Islamic architecture can be summarized as follows: 
• A house should not be built higher than the neighbour's one, in order not to disturb him. 
• The front façades on the street should not reflect the social status of the owner. 
• The width of the lanes must allow the crossing of 2 loaded donkeys. 
wever, many of these 
opriate for automated 
tion and the possible 
Historic Monuments 
•k is being carried out 
habilitation du Patri- 
:6,000. The inventory 
’the local population, 
the 3D CAD system 
These statements may appear very simple but make it possible to understand a certain number of architectural elements. It is also 
necessary to take into account the particular climatic conditions: very hot summers and relatively cold winters. Regarding the heat, an 
optimal sun protection is essential, which means providing shade in the lanes and building relatively thick walls for a better tem 
perature control. Anyhow, in summer people preferably sleep on the terraces or in the small towers on top of the houses. As winters 
can be relatively harsh, it is also necessary to plan for solid protected living spaces inside the houses. 
These particularities led to the development of typical houses, the tighrems, with 3 or 4 floors including an inner courtyard for venti 
lation and to avoid the sun from over-heating the façades. These courtyards are very often in the centre of the building. On the 
ground floor are cattle sheds and possibly granaries, which can also be located on the first floor. On the second floor is the winter 
home, whereas the summer home is located on the terrace surrounded by towers, also very often used as guest rooms. The inner 
courtyard is bordered by arcades and corridors which open onto the different rooms. These houses are typically family mansions 
equipped according to the owner's status and wealth; much simpler houses are intended for craftsmen and workmen. 
In short, one thus notices a relatively complex whole of buildings, which is to be dissociated into different elements able to be inte 
grated into an information system. 
installed in Southern 
of the systems to the 
.s a model for similar 
e testimonies to their 
common expectation 
:al sites and show the 
extent by the popula- 
already built up their 
modern life. In Swit- 
in the form of books 
/ available in form of 
uments of the Arabic 
es et de leur environ- 
in Tunis in 1984 and 
try has been incorpo- 
In fact the inventory 
eally and to allow for 
and revitalisation is 
in Ouarzazate a few 
y of cultural heritage. 
: analyse the method- 
; historic monuments 
Fig. 1: Typical ornaments of Southern Moroccan architecture 
tember 18 - 21, 2001