Aleppo Pixelated: An Urban Reading through Digitized Historical Maps and High-Resolution Orthomosaics Case Study of al-ʿAqaba and al-Jallūm Quarters

Abstract

This article relies on a combination of digital and analog data to analyze the 2D urban development of al-ʿAqaba and Jallūm districts in the Old City of Aleppo. The dataset consists of vectorized historical maps of the city spanning various historical periods. The oldest map in the collection dates back to the 1900s. Additionally, there are high-resolution orthomosaics created from a 3D model obtained through Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Aerial Photogrammetry techniques. Through the analysis and integration of these various data types, the article proposes an analog-digital workflow that tracks the alterations in the urban fabric of the designated study area. The analysis primarily examines the alterations in the city’s two-dimensional layout and the distribution of mass and void. Tracking the changes in the street network of the studied area is the main goal of this research, along with recognizing the spatial changes in the built environment. The article identified changes in both the open spaces and the street layout.

Keywords

• digital urban heritage
• laser scanning
• point cloud
• aerial photogrammetry
• historical map
• cartographic visualization