engleski

Application of Terrestrial Laser Scanning in the Preservation of Fortified Caves

Fortified caves are unique to mountain ranges of north Mediterranean area, hidden in inaccessible parts of those mountains and served as secret forts for the people. They are not only pearls of defensive architecture but also a great example of symbioses between man and nature. Research of the Croatian fortified caves plays a major role in the European Union project "Karst Underground Protection". The reason being that, the confirmed number of these objects located in Croatia is second only to France. So far, the existence of more than 50 fortified caves has been established and pending further exploration and documentation. Most of those finds are based on oral conveyance. The significance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations calls for locating and documenting such objects. Considering the complexity of cave structures, their inaccessibility and the rate of decay a suitable method for collecting comprehensive data was considered to be laser scanning. The advantages of laser scanning over traditional surveying techniques have already been proven in many past projects involving survey of geometrically complex objects lacking significant texture differences. Laser scanning provides a non-destructive, comprehensive and efficient method of survey that allows experts to conduct detailed inspection, analysis and visualization of complex structures. The progress of laser scanners has ensured that future projects of this type will play a major role in preservation of cultural heritage objects such as these. This paper describes the importance of subterranean forts to past generations, in light of need for their preservation, and the methodology applied for their 3D documenting and visualization, on the example of objects explored and documented so far. This provides a basis for interdisciplinary geodetic, archaeological, geological and anthropological research.

fortified caves; terrestrial laser scanning

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