GIS-Based Archaelogical Recording in Lebanon

A GIS-Based project for the management of restoration interventions was developed in the Lebanon: survey data, cataloguing of stone (both in structures and scattered), degradation of the archaeological areas of Baalbek and Tyre, where restoration and optimisation works have already been carried out. The project is structured as a single “Geodatabase” and includes the entire archaeological area of Baalbek, while the urban area of Tyre is subdivided into two main physically separated areas called “City Site” and “Al Bass”. The GIS processes all the data relevant to the position, dispersion and dimensions of the objects georeferenced in the Reference System WGS84 with UTM projection Zone 36N, as well as the technical data to describe the quality of the objects represented. The Project in this way makes it possible to individually manage, analyse and assess the graphic representation, at a layer level, through the “Polygon” primitive and query the database in SQL language. The requisites used to develop the GIS projects may be subdivided into three categories: descriptive data (analytic datasheets of the architectural elements etc); graphic data (laser scanner surveys; general plan of the islands; maps; satellite images, etc.); photographic data (documentation and archive photographs). The mapping base (vectorial in CAD and Orthophoto raster) made it possible to vectorialise all the elements rendered with the three consecutive geometric primitives of the GIS (Points, Polylines and Polygons). The relations and connection and contiguity relationships between the GIS element are guaranteed by the topological functions. The excellent orthophotos, DEMs and the particularly accurate TINs obtained made it possible to develop an important phase of 3D data processing through the ESRI ArcScene. The historical charts and grids that permitted spatial diachronic analysis also proved to be invaluable.