Course on digital photogrammetry applied to cultural heritage in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

Basic level

Dates: July 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9, 2024

Modality: Online

Application deadline: June 16, 2024

 

General Information

We are seeking 15 profiles involved in World Heritage Site management to join a 5-day online course in Spanish focused on the application of digital photogrammetry to Cultural Heritage in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Cultural heritage, with its monuments and sites, is constantly threatened with deterioration and destruction. Therefore, it is essential to adopt ongoing actions for its protection and conservation, using scientific and modern methods when conditions permit. The first and most basic step in conserving cultural heritage is its documentation; this allows us to prove or accredit the existence of something and that it exists in this form, with its specific characteristics. Based on the documentation of cultural heritage, various actions are built not only for its protection and conservation but also for its research, intervention, and dissemination. Documentation is also an indispensable element in risk management for cultural and world heritage, as it prepares for damage mitigation and response to events associated with natural disasters. The reliable recording of a heritage asset allows for the definition of intervention and restoration strategies. Therefore, it is of great importance for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, a region threatened by various natural phenomena such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions, which can and have resulted in the destruction of heritage sites.

With the development and rise of digital technologies in recent years, the field of cultural heritage documentation has benefited from improved and new techniques, such as 3D scanning, which enables the creation of a virtual replica of almost any object with all its morphological and visual characteristics. 3D scanning contributes to the conservation of historical and archaeological monuments, not in a physical sense, but by digitally preserving the information about heritage assets (morphology, color, and texture), in addition to facilitating decision-making when carrying out an intervention. Currently, one of the most widely used 3D scanning techniques due to its versatility and low cost is digital photogrammetry. The term means measuring using photographs, and it is a technique that has been evolving in recent years, incorporating new concepts and technologies, enabling virtual reconstructions using digital photographs and photogrammetric software.

This is why technologies such as digital photogrammetry can be of great help to a region with a high potential for natural disasters. Unlike other documentation techniques, 3D scanning is capable of recording the entirety of an asset, covering virtually all of its areas. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning the affordability of photogrammetry compared to other technologies, making it accessible to virtually any type of institution.

Finally, the course objective is to provide participants with knowledge and mastery of photogrammetry, focused on the three-dimensional digitization of real estate or built heritage. This technology allows for precise documentation of the asset, generating a virtual copy suitable for computer manipulation for various purposes. At the end of the course, participants will have the skills and knowledge necessary to apply this technique to their own built cultural heritage, digitizing real estate assets in whole or in part, for example, facades, walls, roofs, domes, etc.​​​​​​​

 

Course Concept

The basic level of the course will provide participants with the skills and knowledge necessary for digital photogrammetry, beginning with proper photography using SLR cameras or smartphones. Participants will then be taught how to use photogrammetric software for data processing, and finally, they will be instructed on the generation of 3D digitalization products such as orthomosaics and digital elevation models.

This activity consists of five online sessions in Spanish via the Zoom platform, scheduled for July 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mexico City time.

 

Zona horaria	País
8:00 am - 12:30 pm	Ciudad de México, México Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Tegucigalpa, Honduras San José, Costa Rica San Salvador, El Salvador Managua, Nicaragua
9:00 am – 13:30 pm	Panamá, Panamá
10:00 am – 14:30 pm	Habana, Cuba Santo Domingo, República Dominicana

 

Costs and Commitments

There is no registration fee to attend this course, but the use of a computer and internet connection must be covered by the participant. Participants must also commit their time to attend the course and complete the assignments or practical exercises assigned during the sessions. Completion of these activities will be essential to obtain a certificate and progress to subsequent phases of the course.

 

Who is the course for?

The course is aimed at professionals such as architects, restorers, or archaeologists with intermediate computer skills, who work in:

• Heritage sites, preferably inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Organizations or institutions responsible for the management of cultural world heritage properties.

 

Course Requirements

You must have access to a computer or laptop with a camera, microphone, mouse, and internet connection. It is recommended that you install the latest version of Zoom on your device to fully participate in the sessions.

 

Required Technological Equipment:

• Camera
• Laptop or desktop computer
• Mouse

Technological Equipment Specifications:

 

Recommended Requirements

• Computer with at least 16 GB of RAM, a 64-bit operating system, and a dedicated graphics card (Nvidia recommended).
• Professional camera (SLR) with at least 12 megapixel resolution.

 

Minimum Requirements:

• Computer with at least 8 GB of RAM, 64-bit operating system
• Compact camera or cell phone with at least 10 megapixel resolution

 

While it is possible to complete the course with the specified minimum requirements, having a computer with the recommended specifications can be essential to achieve optimal results and skills in using the photogrammetric technique.

 

Application Process

Interested applicants have until June 16, 2024, to apply for the course by submitting the following documents:

• Completed application form (click here).
• Official endorsement from the site management institution or the organization supporting your application. Curriculum vitae.  
• Course syllabus (click here).