Within the framework of the project “Taking Immediate Measures to Secure the Roman Aqueduct of Moria, Lesvos” and in collaboration with the Directorate of Restoration of Ancient Monuments and engineers A. Mantzanis, P. Plainis and Ch. Giannelos, our team conducted aerial photogrammetric surveys using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and ground surveys with a 3D laser scanner. These surveys were carried out (a) for the broader area of the aqueduct, including a sufficient zone upstream and downstream to capture the topography of the region, and (b) for the structural elements of the Aqueduct, with the aim of its geometric documentation. The purpose of the aerial and ground surveys is to create bases of contemporary true orthophotos with high spatial resolution (pixel size up to 1 cm) of the characteristic views of the aqueduct (plan view, elevation view, upstream/downstream views), as well as to generate the Reality Model of the Aqueduct to extract cross-sections at characteristic positions of the model.
For the geometric documentation of the Aqueduct, 34 overlapping scans were performed using a 3D laser scanner.
For the 3D photogrammetry of the Aqueduct, flights were conducted to capture aerial photographs using a quadcopter drone.
A total of 751 aerial photographs were taken to create the orthophoto and the Digital Terrain Model of the broader area. Additionally, 2754 aerial photographs were taken at distances up to 10 meters from the Aqueduct to produce side views orthophotos and cross-sections with high spatial detail. Complementarily, 80 ground photographs were taken with a DSLR camera for the photogrammetric documentation of the top views of the connecting arches of the piers.
Watch the fly-over animation of the Aqueduct’s Digital Twin in the following player.