Temporal Analysis of Looting Activity in Tūwāneh (Southern Jordan)

Looting is a worldwide issue that occurs not only in conflict zones or areas with weak governmental control. Although national and international agencies are addressing the problem, we are far from solving it, due to its complexity and the insufficient allocation of resources. In this article, we examine the temporal and spatial patterns of looting at the single site level (Tūwāneh, southern Jordan) over the past decade. Our analysis utilized orthomosaics created in 2018 and 2019, a systematic surface survey conducted in November 2022, and publicly available satellite imagery (via Google Earth Pro) dating back to August 2013. We identified a total of 723 looting pits, of which 259 were excavated before August 2013 and 140 between August 2013 and November 2022; 324 were inconclusive due to methodological limitations. The findings suggest that looting is a persistent issue in the area, highlighting the importance of implementing effective measures to prevent the loss of archaeological heritage

Preliminary report on the research of the JU Institute of Archeology and the AGH UST Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering at the Dajaniya and Tuwaneh sites in Jordan – seasons 2018-2019

W artykule publikowane są wyniki badań ekspedycji Instytutu Archeologii UJ i Wydziału Geodezji Górniczej i Inżynierii Środowiska AGH w południowo-zachodniej Jordanii na stanowiskach Dajaniya (Ma’an Husseiniyeh) i Tuwaneh (Tafila Hessa) z lat 2018-2019.. Badania miały na celu wykonanie szczegółowych planów stanowisk oraz zadokumentowanie stanu zachowania pozostałości architektonicznych z użyciem fotogrametrii (z wysięgnika oraz latawca) oraz skaningu laserowego. Ponadto zarejestrowano również wkopy rabunkowe na obu stanowiskach. Przeprowadzono również prospekcję powierzchniową zbierając materiał ceramiczny oraz pojedyncze zabytki metalowe, która w przypadku Tuwaneh objęła centralną część stanowiska (w okolicach tzw. karawanseraju) oraz część wkopów rabunkowych i ich hałd. W 2019 roku wykonano również badania wykopaliskowe w obrębie trzech wykopów sondażowych w Tuwaneh na terenie starożytnych termhe article presents the preliminary results of research conducted by the expedition of the Institute of Archeology of the Jagiellonian University and the Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology in the south-western Jordan at Dajaniya (Ma’an Husseiniyeh) and Tuwaneh (Tafila Hessa) sites in 2018-2019. The main aim of the research was to create plans for both sites and document the state of preservation of architectural remains using photogrammetry (both pole- and kite-based) as well as terrestrial laser scanning. Additionally, robber pits were recorded at both sites. A surface prospection was also conducted, collecting ceramic and metal artifacts, which, in the case of Tuwaneh, covered the central part of the site (the area around the so-called caravanserai) and part of the robber trenches and their waste piles. In 2019, three trial trenches were also excavated in the vicinity of the ancient baths at Tuwane

Metodyka geodezyjnych badań odkształceń w diagnostyce wieloprzewodowych kominów przemysłowych

Promotor: Rajmund Oruba.Recenzent: Andrzej Pachuta, Jan Gocał.Niepublikowana praca doktorska.Tyt. z ekranu tyt.Praca doktorska. Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica (Kraków). Wydział Geodezji Górniczej i Inżynierii Środowiska. Katedra Geodezji Inżynieryjnej i Budownictwa, 2014.Zawiera bibliogr.Dostępna również w wersji drukowanej.Tryb dostępu: Internet.Charakterystyka techniczna wieloprzewodowych kominów przemysłowych, wymagania dotyczące pomiarów przemieszczeń i odkształceń obiektów budowlanych, geodezyjne wyznaczanie przemieszczeń i odkształceń, pomiary okresowe i monitoring, wymagania dotyczące oceny stanu technicznego kominów przemysłowych, czynniki wpływające na bezpieczeństwo kominów przemysłowych, wymagania prawne dotyczące oceny stanu technicznego kominów przemysłowych, badania diagnostyczne wieloprzewodowych kominów przemysłowych, uszkodzenia wewnętrznych elementów konstrukcyjnych kominów wieloprzewodowych, tradycyjne metody geodezyjnych pomiarów kominów przemysłowych, metody geodezyjnych pomiarów wychyleń kominów, metoda dwusiecznych kierunków stycznych trygonometryczna, metody pomiaru wychyleń przy użyciu tachimetrów bezzwierciadlanych, pomiary przemieszczeń pionowych fundamentów kominów, geodezyjne pomiary wewnętrznych konstrukcji w kominach wieloprzewodowych, warunki pomiarowe wewnątrz kominów wieloprzewodowych, pomiary geometrii wewnętrznych elementów konstrukcyjnych w kominach wieloprzewodowych, orientacja sytuacyjna i wysokościowa poziomów pomiarowych, orientacja sytuacyjna, orientacja wysokościowa, pomiary geometrii stropów wewnętrznych, pomiary wychyleń wewnętrznych przewodów spalin, pomiary geometrii konstrukcji wybranych kominów wieloprzewodowych klasycznymi metodami geodezyjnymi, dwuprzewodowy komin H = 160 m w Zakładach Azotowych w Puławach, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary geometrii elementów konstrukcyjnych komina, parametry osiadania i obrotu fundamentu komina, orientacja wysokościowa poziomów pomiarowych, geometria stropów wewnętrznych, wychylenia wewnętrznych przewodów spalin, sześcioprzewodowy komin H= 150 m w Elektrowni Turów, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary geometrii elementów konstrukcyjnych komina, opis pomiaru konstrukcji komina, parametry osiadania i obrotu fundamentu komina, geometria wewnętrznych stropów nośnych, sześcioprzewodowy komin H = 250 m w Elektrowni Opole, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary geometrii elementów konstrukcyjnych komina, parametry osiadania i obrotu fundamentu komina, geometria wewnętrznych stropów nośnych, dwuprzewodowy komin H = 100 m w Elektrowni Siersza, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary geometrii elementów konstrukcyjnych komina, parametry osiadania i obrotu fundamentu komina, pionowość żelbetowego trzonu komina, geometria wewnętrznych stropów nośnych, poziomość pierścieni podporowych przewodów spalin, sześcioprzewodowy komin nr 1 H = 300 m w Elektrowni Bełchatów, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary wychyleń wewnętrznych przewodów spalin, zastosowanie skaningu laserowego do badania geometrii kominów wieloprzewodowych, podstawy techniki skaningu laserowego, ocena przydatności skaningu laserowego w badaniach geometrii kominów wieloprzewodowych, dwuprzewodowy komin H= 120 m w Elektrowni Skawina, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary geometrii elementów konstrukcyjnych komina, opis pomiaru konstrukcji komina, geometria stropów wewnętrznych, wy chylenia wewnętrznych przewodów spalin i trzonu żelbetowego, jednoprzewodowy komin H = 150 m w Elektrowni Pątnów, opis konstrukcji obiektu, pomiary geometrii elementów konstrukcyjnych komina, opis pomiaru konstrukcji komina, geometria stropów wewnętrznych, wychylenia wewnętrznego przewodu spalin i trzonów żelbetowych, badania właściwości dynamicznych wieloprzewodowych kominów, pomiary dynamiczne kominów wieloprzewodowych, pomiary dynamiczne komina H = 160 m w Zakładach Azotowych w Puławach, pomiary dynamiczne komina H = 150 m w Elektrowni Turów, pomiary dynamiczne dźwigarów stropów wewnętrznyc

Possibilities of Spatial Data to Determine the Extent of the Occupancy of the Right-of-Way by Large-Format Advertisements

Large-format advertisements are becoming a more and more common element of building facades, especially in city centers. Placing an object of this type is not without significance to the real property management. A large-format advertising billboard on the facade, on the one hand, is associated with the possibility of renting advertising space, on the other - it can lead to the occupancy of a right-of-way, which results in a necessity to pay appropriate fees, in the amount regulated by the Act on Public Roads. Placing an object such as a large-format advertising billboard in a right-of-way requires a permit of the manager of this road. However, if a billboard is located on the facade of a building, occupancy of the right-of-way is not always the case. If the boundary of the road parcel runs along the contour of the building, a billboard placed on the elevation will always occupy the right-of-way. However, property boundaries often run at a distance from the building. Such situations - desired by managers - result in a noticeable increase in demand for surveying opinions to determine what part of the right-of-way is occupied by a large-format advertisement. This article analyzes the cases of the right-of-way being occupied by large-format advertising placed on the facades of buildings in the city center. For selected objects, information was obtained from public records, National Cartographic Documentation Center database, and direct surveying was performed with various techniques. This allowed for an objective assessment of the possible use of available surveying methods and the acquired spatial data to determine the right-of-way occupied by large-format advertisements for purposes of real estate management

Accuracy Evaluation of Real-Time GNSS Precision Positioning with RTX Trimble Technology

In this paper, authors present results of accuracy verification of the Trimble RTX technology. The GNSS receiver Spectra Precision SP60 was used in Cyprus (Kato Paphos Archaeological Park). To evaluate the accuracy of the receiver, two measuring test networks (consisting of 30 and 55 control points) were established. All points were determined in four measuring cycles. Additionally, in order to make more advanced analysis of the data, the bases were also measured by using another GNSS receiver - Geomax-Zenith 25. The point positions, in this case, were conducted in the local coordinate system of Kato Paphos Archaeological Park by using RTK positioning technology. To make a comparison, it was necessary to transform the coordinates based on different groups of fitting points. Analysis allowed to conclude that the Spectra Precision SP60 receiver and the RTX Trimble technology guarantee repeatable results (on the level of 4 cm) of point positioning measurements

Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Updating Farmland Cadastral Data in Areas Subject to Landslides

The purpose of this study was to verify the applicability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to update cadastral records in areas affected by landslides. Its authors intended to compare the accuracy of coordinates determined using different UAV data processing methods for points which form the framework of a cadastral database, and to find out whether products obtained as a result of such UAV data processing are sufficient to define the extent of changes in the cadastral objects. To achieve this, an experiment was designed to take place at the site of a landslide. The entire photogrammetry mission was planned to cover an area of more than 70 ha. Given the steep grade of the site, the UAV was flown over each line at a different, individually preset altitude, such as to ensure consistent mean shooting distance (height above ground level), and thus, appropriate ground sample distance (GSD; pixel size). The results were analyzed in four variants, differing from each other in terms of the number of control points used and the method of their measurement. This allowed identification of the factors that affect surveying accuracy and the indication of the cadastral data updatable based on an UAV photogrammetric survey

3D Reconstruction of Power Lines Using UAV Images to Monitor Corridor Clearance

Regular power line inspections are essential to ensure the reliability of electricity supply. The inspections of overground power submission lines include corridor clearance monitoring and fault identification. The power lines corridor is a three-dimensional space around power cables defined by a set distance. Any obstacles breaching this space should be detected, as they potentially threaten the safety of the infrastructure. Corridor clearance monitoring is usually performed either by a labor-intensive total station survey (TS), terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), or expensive airborne laser scanning (ALS) from a plane or a helicopter. This paper proposes a method that uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images to monitor corridor clearance. To maintain the adequate accuracy of the relative position of wires in regard to surrounding obstacles, the same data were used both to reconstruct a point cloud representation of a digital surface model (DSM) and a 3D power line. The proposed algorithm detects power lines in a series of images using decorrelation stretch for initial image processing, the modified Prewitt filter for edge enhancement, random sample consensus (RANSAC) with additional parameters for line fitting, and epipolar geometry for 3D reconstruction. DSM points intruding into the corridor are then detected by calculating the spatial distance between a reconstructed power line and the DSM point cloud representation. Problematic objects are localized by segmenting points into voxels and then subsequent clusterization. The processing results were compared to the results of two verification methods—TS and TLS. The comparison results show that the proposed method can be used to survey power lines with an accuracy consistent with that of classical measurements

Assessment of the Possibility of Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Documentation of Hiking Trails in Alpine Areas

The research described in this paper deals with the documentation of hiking trails in alpine areas. The study presents a novel research topic, applying up-to-date survey techniques and top quality equipment with practical applications in nature conservation. The research presents the initial part of the process—capturing imagery, photogrammetric processing, quality checking, and a discussion on possibilities of the further data analysis. The research described in this article was conducted in the Tatra National Park (TNP) in Poland, which is considered as one of the most-visited national parks in Europe. The exceptional popularity of this place is responsible for intensification of morphogenetic processes, resulting in the development of numerous forms of erosion. This article presents the outcomes of research, whose purpose was to verify the usability of UAVs to check the condition of hiking trails in alpine areas. An octocopter equipped with a non-metric camera was used for measurements. Unlike traditional methods of measuring landscape features, such a solution facilitates acquisition of quasi-continuous data that has uniform resolution throughout the study area and high spatial accuracy. It is also a relatively cheap technology, which is its main advantage over equally popular laser scanning. The paper presents the complete methodology of data acquisition in harsh conditions and demanding locations of hiking trails on steep Tatra slopes. The paper also describes stages that lead to the elaboration of basic photogrammetric products relying on structure from motion (SfM) technology and evaluates the accuracy of the materials obtained. Finally, it shows the applicability of the prepared products to the evaluation of the spatial reach and intensity of erosion along hiking trails, and to the study of plant succession or tree stand condition in the area located next to hiking trails

UAV Applications for Determination of Land Deformations Caused by Underground Mining

This article presents a case study that demonstrates the applicability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric data to land surface deformation monitoring in areas affected by underground mining. The results presented include data from two objects located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland. The limits of coordinate and displacement accuracy are determined by comparing UAV-derived photogrammetric products to reference data. Vertical displacements are determined based on differences between digital surface models created using UAV imagery from several measurement series. Interpretation problems related to vegetation growth on the terrain surface that significantly affect vertical displacement error are pointed out. Horizontal displacements are determined based on points of observation lines established in the field for monitoring purposes, as well as based on scattered situational details. The use of this type of processing is limited by the need for unambiguous situational details with clear contours. Such details are easy to find in urbanized areas but difficult to find in fields and meadows. In addition, various types of discontinuous deformations are detected and their development over time is presented. The results are compared to forecasted land deformations. As a result of the data processing, it has been estimated that the accuracy of the determination of XY coordinates and the horizontal displacements (RMS) in best case scenario is on the level of 1.5–2 GSD, and about 2–3 GSD for heights and subsidence