Application of Orthophoto Maps Created from UAV Aerial Images for Monitoring Historical and Cultural Heritage Lands

Abstract

The study investigates the methodology of creating orthophotoplans for immovable historical and cultural heritage sites, beginning from aerial surveys using various UAVs to object vectorization and plan creation. This issue is highly relevant in Ukraine due to rapid reforms in all ministries, including the Ministry of Culture. The reforms are creating a constant need for updated graphical documentation. As immovable historical and cultural heritage sites are in tourist areas with changing infrastructure, traditional surveying methods are impractical due to time constraints. Additionally, the application of UAV aerial imaging for delineating object boundaries and protective zones is more cost-effective. Existing boundaries of heritage lands and those determined from archival materials were overlaid on the created pflans. Orthophotoplans were produced and vectorized at a scale of 1:500 for two research zones: the Holy Trinity Church in Liuboml and the New Jewish Cemetery in Lviv. For the New Jewish Cemetery, boundaries were delineated to assess alignment with the current protective zone. Protective buffer zones around heritage sites were outlined according to both historical and contemporary recommendations in Ukraine. For buffer zones measured from the centroid, development is permitted up to 300 meters for undeveloped areas, with negotiated distances for developed regions, using the 300-meter protective zone as a baseline. The study's uniqueness lies in using a known methodology for creating orthophotoplans based on UAV data to explore options for modeling protective zones based on varying legislative norms over time, incorporating specific nuances. This approach can benefit not only Ukraine but also other countries undergoing reforms in this field.