Preserving Mudbrick Architecture of the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Depression with 3D Technologies

Abstract

Introduction. The article describes a 3D documentation and visualization technique. Goals. The study seeks to preserve and reconstruct key forms and types of Kazakh memorial architecture with the aid of visual archeology tools. Materials and methods. The work started with determination of morphological characteristics inherent to the objects under study — mudbrick mausoleums. In accordance with the latter, a three-dimensional visualization technique was selected. The photography scenarios have been developed following recommendations of the software developers. The paper provides detailed insights into all stages of creating three-dimensional models, including data collection, feature description of the equipment used, pre-shooting computational analysis, shooting proper, and data post-processing. Special attention is paid to the most important and crucial moment of the survey — shooting, which was performed from different angles each to have yielded a distinguished set of photographs. It is urgent to take a sufficient number of high-quality photographs from different angles. A number of photographs for each angle should be as high as possible — from 30–40 to several hundreds and thousands. Results. The work notes that 6–8 sets were made for each mausoleum. Documentation of one object only (taking into account additional and spare photographs) includes a total of 500–600 photographs. Extensive efforts were made to process the obtained data, the latter work be implemented in a specific order to result in three-dimensional models and visualization patterns of the examined mausoleums. Preservation of mudbrick steppe monuments in digital format is an urgent need because those are a vanishing type of late medieval memorial architecture dating back to ancient times. Digital 3D-models of collapsing mudbrick mausoleums shall always be invaluable for science as historical sources, part of the Kazakh national cultural heritage.

Keywords

• archeology
• mudbrick architecture
• sacred landscape
• 3d modeling
• virtual reconstructions