Content of the photographs were interpreted as closed polygons which formed
each area. Those were assigned an attribute that categorized all areas as a type of
code. As in the Corine project the smallest interpreted elements of about 1 ha or
linear elements with a width of 20 m were defined (it is necessary to set a
generalization limit at this stage). The resulting classification images were not
possible to overlay and thus created exact differences between individual years.
The problem was the different size of the scanned area. For example, in 1951 an
image of the city centre without the outside city parts was the only one available,
whereas from the earlier period there were only sketches without the wider neighborhood. Interpreted elements analysis was performed approximately in the area
around the city for the elements that clearly belonged to the urban areas (parks,
buildings, etc.), i.e. not losses of arable land. A full analysis would require cropping
all the interpretations made by the smallest of them and find out a comprehensive
acreage for each of the included classification classes. Given the purpose of
demonstration analysis selected classes for the entire area of the city were
performed.
3.3.3 Creating a Base Map of the Al-Qala Citadel
The Citadel is spread out over more than 10 ha of land (300–350 m in diameter). It
is a classic case of adapted hillock – “tell”. The height of hillock averages to about
30 m around flat surroundings. No maps or plans of Citadel were at our disposal –
only a copy of a cadastral plan from 1920 was available. Complex documentation of
this object during a short expedition was not possible. For this reason, the terrestrial
photogrammetry and satellite images were used.
In 2007, the vector plan of the Citadel was created based on aerial photos and
satellite data (supplemented and improved in 2010). On the other hand we have
processed photogrammetrical images into a virtual 3D model of the Citadel fortification and the valuable objects inside (a big part inside was damaged and the
inhabitancies are provisory – slum). The last part of this project was the creation of
an information system for the Citadel, which can be used for all information
storage.
In the research and preservation of cultural heritage in Erbil, it is necessary to
take consideration of the rapid development and lack of documentation of things
such as maps and especially the older city status. As was mentioned above, the city,
after World War II, had about 40,000 residents while today the population is more
than 1.5 million. These information have been notified us by the governorate of the
city of Erbil in 2010 and also by consultation on local cultural heritage authorities.
About the postwar Erbil population other publications are written (Justa and
Houska 2006; Muhmmad 2004).
After the war in Iraq and the emergence of the Kurdish autonomous region,
experienced a markedly accelerated development mainly due to capital inflows
from abroad has been achieved. This enormous city growth brings many negatives.
3 Combining Different Data Sources for City Growth Analysis. . .
49
each area. Those were assigned an attribute that categorized all areas as a type of
code. As in the Corine project the smallest interpreted elements of about 1 ha or
linear elements with a width of 20 m were defined (it is necessary to set a
generalization limit at this stage). The resulting classification images were not
possible to overlay and thus created exact differences between individual years.
The problem was the different size of the scanned area. For example, in 1951 an
image of the city centre without the outside city parts was the only one available,
whereas from the earlier period there were only sketches without the wider neighborhood. Interpreted elements analysis was performed approximately in the area
around the city for the elements that clearly belonged to the urban areas (parks,
buildings, etc.), i.e. not losses of arable land. A full analysis would require cropping
all the interpretations made by the smallest of them and find out a comprehensive
acreage for each of the included classification classes. Given the purpose of
demonstration analysis selected classes for the entire area of the city were
performed.
3.3.3 Creating a Base Map of the Al-Qala Citadel
The Citadel is spread out over more than 10 ha of land (300–350 m in diameter). It
is a classic case of adapted hillock – “tell”. The height of hillock averages to about
30 m around flat surroundings. No maps or plans of Citadel were at our disposal –
only a copy of a cadastral plan from 1920 was available. Complex documentation of
this object during a short expedition was not possible. For this reason, the terrestrial
photogrammetry and satellite images were used.
In 2007, the vector plan of the Citadel was created based on aerial photos and
satellite data (supplemented and improved in 2010). On the other hand we have
processed photogrammetrical images into a virtual 3D model of the Citadel fortification and the valuable objects inside (a big part inside was damaged and the
inhabitancies are provisory – slum). The last part of this project was the creation of
an information system for the Citadel, which can be used for all information
storage.
In the research and preservation of cultural heritage in Erbil, it is necessary to
take consideration of the rapid development and lack of documentation of things
such as maps and especially the older city status. As was mentioned above, the city,
after World War II, had about 40,000 residents while today the population is more
than 1.5 million. These information have been notified us by the governorate of the
city of Erbil in 2010 and also by consultation on local cultural heritage authorities.
About the postwar Erbil population other publications are written (Justa and
Houska 2006; Muhmmad 2004).
After the war in Iraq and the emergence of the Kurdish autonomous region,
experienced a markedly accelerated development mainly due to capital inflows
from abroad has been achieved. This enormous city growth brings many negatives.
3 Combining Different Data Sources for City Growth Analysis. . .
49