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VISUALISATION OF A NECROPOLIS ON THE BASIS OF A PORTABLE AERIAL 
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SYSTEM AND TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING 
R. Brechtken 3 , H.-J. Przybilla 3 , D. Wahl 3 
a Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Surveying and Geomatics - 
rainer.brechtken@hs-bochum.de 
Commission V, WG V/4 
KEY WORDS : Application, Archaeology, Cultural heritage, Fusion, Photogrammetry, Terrestrial, Three-dimensional, TLS, 
Navigation 
ABSTRACT: 
This paper describes data collection for three dimensional visualisation based on measurements of terrestrial laser scanners in 
combination with digital aerial photogrammetric data. For these methods an archaeological excavation area in Egypt is chosen. The 
whole process, with special focus on the different measuring methods and the data fusion, will be described. 3D visualisations of 
various objects are demonstrated. 
1. THE ARCHAOLOGICAL EXCAVATION 
„ATHRIBIS“ 
The ancient city of Athribis is located 140 km northwest of 
Luxor and 400 km south of Cairo on the east side of the river 
Nile. One of the most significant historical buildings in this area 
is the temple of the lioness queen REPIT. This temple was build 
between 80 and 50 BC. 
Figure 1. Athribis, Egypt. (© GoogleEarth Copyright 2007) 
The archaeological excavation site of the Athribis temple is an 
example of a research project with international partners. Since 
2003 the entire surveying work in Athribis is achieved by 
Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Dep. of Surveying and 
Geomatics. Besides classical geodetic surveys (for setting up 
the geodetic net) more and more 3-D technologies, like 
terrestrial laser scanning and digital photogrammetry, are used 
for the documentation process. 
In addition to the temple complex a neighbouring mountain site 
(more then two kilometres long and about 200 m high (figure 
18)) is part of the research project. It is the place of the 
necropolis and generates increasing interest. In the 2007 
campaign a documentation concept was planned which consists 
of long range terrestrial laser scanning on the one hand and low 
altitude aerial photogrammetry on the other hand. 
2. MEASUREMENT METHODS 
2.1 Terrestrial Laser Scanning 
During the last campaigns a complete survey of the area in the 
vicinity of the Repit temple was carried out by means of the 
medium range scanner Z+F Imager 5003 and 5006 (Obertreiber 
& Stein, 2005, figure 2). The typical data amount of such a 
campaign: 37 Scans /1.8 Billion Points / 9.3 GByte. 
Figure 2. Athribis, Repit Temple pointcloud 
After the completion of the geodetic survey in the vicinity of 
the temple, the archaeologists asked for a method to extend the 
survey to the surrounding terrain. Because of local restrictions