High-Resolution 3D Structural Documentation of the Saqqara Pyramids, Egypt, Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Integrated Geomatics Techniques for Heritage Preservation.
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| Title: | High-Resolution 3D Structural Documentation of the Saqqara Pyramids, Egypt, Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Integrated Geomatics Techniques for Heritage Preservation. |
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| Authors: | Elbshbeshi, Abdelhamid1 (AUTHOR), Mohamed, Abdelmonem1,2 (AUTHOR), Ibraheem, Ismael M.1,2 (AUTHOR) ismael.ibraheem@geo.uni-koeln.de |
| Source: | Remote Sensing. Apr2026, Vol. 18 Issue 8, p1138. 38p. |
| Subjects: | Pyramids, Digital twin, LIDAR, Deterioration of buildings, Geomatics, Historic preservation, Preservation of historic sites |
| Geographic Terms: | Saqqārah (Egypt), Egypt |
| Abstract: | Highlights: What are the main findings? Integrated Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), GNSS, and Total Station techniques produced sub-centimeter georeferenced 3D models of the Djoser, Unas, Teti, and Userkaf pyramids, generating over 2.1 billion high-resolution points with registration errors below 4 mm. Quantitative analysis revealed major structural degradation, including height losses of ~53% (Unas), ~66% (Teti), and ~63% (Userkaf), and localized deformation up to 4.2 cm at Teti's southern flank. What are the implications of the main findings? The generated georeferenced digital twins establish an accurate baseline for long-term deformation monitoring, structural stability assessment, and climate-related risk evaluation at large archaeological sites. The integrated geomatics workflow provides a scalable and transferable framework for high-precision documentation and conservation planning of complex heritage structures worldwide. Accurate 3D documentation of large and complex structures is essential for long-term stability assessment, structural monitoring, and conservation planning, particularly for heritage sites exposed to environmental and anthropogenic threats. This study develops an integrated workflow combining Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Total Station geodetic control for large-scale, high-precision documentation. The approach was implemented at the Saqqara archaeological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing significant deterioration risks, to document four major pyramids: Djoser, Unas, Teti, and Userkaf. More than 2.1 billion georeferenced points were acquired from 16 scan positions with sub-centimeter registration errors and overall geometric accuracy better than ±1 cm. From these datasets, detailed mesh models, orthoimages, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), contour maps, and 2D plans were derived. These enabled quantitative analyses of height loss and volumetric change, indicating severe structural degradation in Unas (~53%), Teti (~66%), and Userkaf (~63%), as well as localized deformations such as 4.2 cm displacement at Teti's south flank. The degradation results from environmental factors and anthropogenic influences. Beyond this case study, the workflow proves that integrated TLS documentation can be applied to large and complex structures, supporting deformation monitoring, stability assessment, and digital twin development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 193435617 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: High-Resolution 3D Structural Documentation of the Saqqara Pyramids, Egypt, Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Integrated Geomatics Techniques for Heritage Preservation. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elbshbeshi%2C+Abdelhamid%22">Elbshbeshi, Abdelhamid</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mohamed%2C+Abdelmonem%22">Mohamed, Abdelmonem</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ibraheem%2C+Ismael+M%2E%22">Ibraheem, Ismael M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ismael.ibraheem@geo.uni-koeln.de</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 18 Issue 8, p1138. 38p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pyramids%22">Pyramids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+twin%22">Digital twin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22LIDAR%22">LIDAR</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deterioration+of+buildings%22">Deterioration of buildings</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geomatics%22">Geomatics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Historic+preservation%22">Historic preservation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservation+of+historic+sites%22">Preservation of historic sites</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Saqqārah+%28Egypt%29%22">Saqqārah (Egypt)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Egypt%22">Egypt</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? Integrated Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), GNSS, and Total Station techniques produced sub-centimeter georeferenced 3D models of the Djoser, Unas, Teti, and Userkaf pyramids, generating over 2.1 billion high-resolution points with registration errors below 4 mm. Quantitative analysis revealed major structural degradation, including height losses of ~53% (Unas), ~66% (Teti), and ~63% (Userkaf), and localized deformation up to 4.2 cm at Teti's southern flank. What are the implications of the main findings? The generated georeferenced digital twins establish an accurate baseline for long-term deformation monitoring, structural stability assessment, and climate-related risk evaluation at large archaeological sites. The integrated geomatics workflow provides a scalable and transferable framework for high-precision documentation and conservation planning of complex heritage structures worldwide. Accurate 3D documentation of large and complex structures is essential for long-term stability assessment, structural monitoring, and conservation planning, particularly for heritage sites exposed to environmental and anthropogenic threats. This study develops an integrated workflow combining Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Total Station geodetic control for large-scale, high-precision documentation. The approach was implemented at the Saqqara archaeological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing significant deterioration risks, to document four major pyramids: Djoser, Unas, Teti, and Userkaf. More than 2.1 billion georeferenced points were acquired from 16 scan positions with sub-centimeter registration errors and overall geometric accuracy better than ±1 cm. From these datasets, detailed mesh models, orthoimages, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), contour maps, and 2D plans were derived. These enabled quantitative analyses of height loss and volumetric change, indicating severe structural degradation in Unas (~53%), Teti (~66%), and Userkaf (~63%), as well as localized deformations such as 4.2 cm displacement at Teti's south flank. The degradation results from environmental factors and anthropogenic influences. Beyond this case study, the workflow proves that integrated TLS documentation can be applied to large and complex structures, supporting deformation monitoring, stability assessment, and digital twin development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=193435617 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/rs18081138 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 38 StartPage: 1138 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Pyramids Type: general – SubjectFull: Digital twin Type: general – SubjectFull: LIDAR Type: general – SubjectFull: Deterioration of buildings Type: general – SubjectFull: Geomatics Type: general – SubjectFull: Historic preservation Type: general – SubjectFull: Preservation of historic sites Type: general – SubjectFull: Saqqārah (Egypt) Type: general – SubjectFull: Egypt Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: High-Resolution 3D Structural Documentation of the Saqqara Pyramids, Egypt, Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Integrated Geomatics Techniques for Heritage Preservation. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Elbshbeshi, Abdelhamid – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mohamed, Abdelmonem – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ibraheem, Ismael M. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20724292 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: Remote Sensing Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
