New Technology for a New Century
International Conference 
FIG Working Week 2001, Seoul, Korea 6–11 May 2001

Abstracts

THE PAMPA OF NASCA - DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIMEDIA GIS

Prof. Bernd TEICHERT and Christiane RICHTER, Germany

Key words: Multimedia GIS, Astronomy, Photogrammetry, Digital Terrain Model, Simulation, Animation, Datamodel.


Abstract

The Nasca Lines and geoglyphs are one of the best known archaeological sites in South America, indeed the world. These large biomorph figures, long straight lines, and various geometric shapes were drawn on the surface of the desert near the town of Nasca beginning over two millennia ago. In 1995 the UNESCO added this area to the World Heritage List. The unanswered question that has historically aroused the most attention is: "Why were they created?"

About 20 theories are current amongst scientists and pseudo-scientists but even today nobody is able to provide a comprehensive and scientifically provable answer to this question. One of the major theories deals with astronomical phenomena. In order to prove this astronomical theory a special research project was started by the department of surveying and cartography of the University of Applied Sciences in Dresden, Germany.

The initial steps were the development of a special datamodel and the creation of a regional Digital Terrain Model (DTM). In September 2000 the photogrammetric data processing of the Nasca block (about 150 images) was started. This includes aerial triangulation, local DTM- generation, the extraction of lines and geoglyphs and the generation of ortho-images. Parallel to that the development of an astronomical approach was started.

The presentation includes theoretical as well as practical aspects. We report about the current stage of the project. Especially, the datamodel and the astronomical concept will be explained in detail. In the practical part we will demonstrate some analyses and special animations using our GIS.

Remarks: A quite similar article was presented at the International Workshop on Recreating the Past ~ Visualization and Animation of Cultural Heritage ~ in Ayutthaya, Thailand, 26 February- 1 March 2001. This workshop was organized by ISPRS Com. V.


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Prof. Dr. Bernd Teichert
MSc. and Ph.D. at the University of Bonn, Germany
Employment
German Volunteer in two Projects of the FAO and WHO in Nepal/Asia.
Research Fellow in Digital Image Processing and Remote Sensing, TU Berlin.
Developing Engineer and Product Manager for GIS- Applications in Switzerland.
Teaching Experience
Lecturer (1980-1985) for Astronomical and Physical Geodesy, Satellite Geodesy and Gravimetry at the Technical University of Berlin.
Since 1993 Professor for Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics at the University of Applied Sciences, Dresden, Department of Surveying and Cartography.
Membership
DVW - Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen (German Association of Surveying)
Chairman of the Working Group 3 - "Geoinformatics and Cartography"
National Delegate of the DVW for Commission 3 of FIG
Chairman of the FIG Com. 3 Working Group 3.2 "Spatial Data Infrastructure"
DGPF - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung
(German Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Christiane Richter
Dipl.-Ing. at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden, Germany
Employment
Surveyor at the land registry
Since 1994 Laboratory Engineer for Surveying, Geoinformatics and Landmanagement at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden, Department of Surveying and Cartography.
Membership
DVW - Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen (German Association of Surveying)


CONTACT

Prof. Bernd Teichert and Christiane Richter
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden (FH)
University of Applied Sciences
Department of Surveying and Cartography
Friedrich-List-Platz 1
D-01069 Dresden
GERMANY
Tel. + 49 351 462 3179
Fax + 49 351 462 2191
E-mail: teichert@htw-dresden.de or crichter@htw-dresden.de 

24 March 2001


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