The Use of Photogrammetric Techniques in Documenting Cultural Heritage: The Example of Aksaray Selime Sultan Tomb

Abstract

Forming 3 dimensional models of the existing historical buildings and objects has a great importance in terms of conserving historical works, sustaining our history, and being able to transfer them to the next generations. For catching the fine geometrical views and details and digitally modelling, it is important to identify a suitable method. It is necessary to digitally record, document, and conserve our cultural assets due to still ongoing wars, natural disasters, and climatic changes. The simplest way for permanently storing the original form and location of historical works with high quality views and details in digital media, forming base for the different projects, and making ready for use, if necessary, is to model the works in 3 dimensions. Beginning from the increase of importance to historical works, in parallelism with this, the importance and sorts of documentation also have begun to increase. Among the existing documentation methods, the method that is suitable to work in metric (via measurement), visual (photographing) and digital (computerized) media and appropriate in terms of time, space, and cost is photogrammetry. In forming and documenting 3 dimensional model of Selime Sultan Tomb located near Ihlara Valley, two different kinds of software of photogrammetric assessment were used.