Application of modern survey and cartographic methods for documenting and presenting existing and historical workings of the UNESCO heritage site: Silver mine in Tarnowskie Góry

Abstract

In this article, contemporary survey and cartographic methods were employed to document and present both the existing and historical workings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry. Terrestrial laser scanning was utilized to capture detailed point clouds, which were then processed for advanced 3D applications. Due to the mine’s limited man-made roof supports, traditional vectorization methods were found to be impractical. Instead, ContexCapture Bentley software was used to create a detailed mesh model, overcoming the limitations of standard mesh algorithms in capturing intricate interior details. The project also integrated historical and current maps, orthophotos, and a digital terrain model to enrich the dataset. For georeferencing, fixed church locations were used, and vector layers were developed to map shafts, adits, water tunnels, and narrow-gauge railways, with each layer annotated with historical and geometric attributes. This approach not only preserves the mine’s complex features but also enhances its usability for future analysis and educational purposes. The resulting data offers a comprehensive, interactive representation of the mine, providing valuable insights into its historical importance and its ongoing role in the region’s mining heritage.