Qubbat al Hawa Digital Reconstruction ProjectQubbat al Hawa Digital Reconstruction Project

The digital reconstructionThe digital reconstructionOf the art and architectural elements of the Coptic Church at Of the art and architectural elements of the Coptic Church at

Qubbat al-Hawa Elephantine AswanQubbat al-Hawa Elephantine Aswan

The data and collated information utilised in the The data and collated information utilised in the development of the project was originally extracted development of the project was originally extracted from the Coptic Multi- Media database, instigated from the Coptic Multi- Media database, instigated and developed by Howard Middleton-Jones in 2007.and developed by Howard Middleton-Jones in 2007.

Additional field work by both Howard and Peter Additional field work by both Howard and Peter Hossfeld was carried out in 2009 and 2010 which Hossfeld was carried out in 2009 and 2010 which included a complete photographic high resolution included a complete photographic high resolution surveysurvey

Visits to the site in February 2010 by Renate Visits to the site in February 2010 by Renate Dekker in conjunction with additional high Dekker in conjunction with additional high resolution photographs by Howard, revealed resolution photographs by Howard, revealed hitherto unknown inscriptions and wall paintingshitherto unknown inscriptions and wall paintings

Thus displaying a need to enhance and develop the Thus displaying a need to enhance and develop the project further and to ensure the site is conserved project further and to ensure the site is conserved and maintained for the future of the Coptic Heritageand maintained for the future of the Coptic Heritage

Advantages of the Coptic Multi-Media Advantages of the Coptic Multi-Media databasedatabase

•To generate a rapid ‘search and find’ criteria

•Ideal when dealing with large data generated from archaeological excavation

work and cataloguing of objects •To locate (by elimination) ‘lost’ or ruined sites

•Data utilised to reconstruct Three Dimensional (3D) and Virtual Reality

(VR) models – use of photographic and film documentation – Ideal tool in the preservation and conservation of Coptic sites

•Utilising GIS to overlay sites – especially in conjunction with such satellite programmes as ‘Google Earth’

•To generate reports - an efficient way to organise and display the data selected, offering greater flexibility and full textual analysis of a particular section of the database.

•Extension of full (pooled) collation of resources – bibliographic references etc

Technical informationTechnical information

CameraCameraCanon Digital SLR EOS 5D Mark II Canon Digital SLR EOS 5D Mark II 21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS sensor 21.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS sensor Distance measurer;Distance measurer;Bosch laser distance meterBosch laser distance meter Colour chart;Colour chart;Kodak colour/greyscale chart 20cmKodak colour/greyscale chart 20cm Digital fusion 5.3post production software for Digital fusion 5.3post production software for

composingcomposing Photoshop Cs4Photoshop Cs4 Autodesk photmodelerAutodesk photmodeler Autodesk 3D Max 2010Autodesk 3D Max 2010

References and team membersReferences and team members Howard Middleton-Jones – Archaeologist – UK basedHoward Middleton-Jones – Archaeologist – UK based

www.ambilacuk.com/copticwww.ambilacuk.com/coptic

Peter Hossfeld – Camera, satellite technology and 3D software Peter Hossfeld – Camera, satellite technology and 3D software specialist – Zurich basedspecialist – Zurich based

www.vcs.chwww.vcs.ch

Renate Dekker – Coptologist and Coptic text specialistRenate Dekker – Coptologist and Coptic text specialist

Project websiteProject website

http://www.ambilacuk.com/qubbatalhawaproject/indehttp://www.ambilacuk.com/qubbatalhawaproject/index.htmlx.html

The futureThe future Utilising the high resolution imaging and Utilising the high resolution imaging and

rendering, it is possible to envisage the rendering, it is possible to envisage the importance of this method in the conservation and importance of this method in the conservation and preservation programmes of Coptic sites.preservation programmes of Coptic sites.

Enabling to ‘capture’ and preserve the wall art Enabling to ‘capture’ and preserve the wall art renderings and inscriptions in situ (using non renderings and inscriptions in situ (using non invasive techniques) before the sands of time and invasive techniques) before the sands of time and erosion completely eliminate these important erosion completely eliminate these important renderings of the past. renderings of the past.

Importantly, help towards a programme of virtual Importantly, help towards a programme of virtual heritage of the important and disappearing heritage of the important and disappearing archaeological sites in Egypt and in turn archaeological sites in Egypt and in turn promoting the Coptic heritage and awareness of promoting the Coptic heritage and awareness of such sitessuch sites