End-to-end digital twin creation of the archaeological landscape in Uruk-Warka (Iraq)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article demonstrates recent technological advancements enabling the creation of digital twins for expansive real-world terrains. Focusing on the archaeological site Uruk-Warka in southern Iraq the German Archaeological Institute deployed the Delta Quad Pro, a winged UAV equipped with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. This UAV captured 32,000 aerial images of the ancient city and its immediate environment. Each image was precisely geotagged using an integrated DGNSS receiver. Utilizing advanced 3D photogrammetry software, we synthesized these images into a single georeferenced model. The outcome was a detailed triangulated mesh, comprising of one billion triangles and 1024 8k-resolution texture files, representing a 40 square kilometers terrain. When rendered in a game-engine and applying the new technologies Nanite and Streaming Virtual Texture, this massive dataset can be visualized in real-time. The result is ‘Uruk-VR,’ a digital twin of the Uruk-Warka archaeological site, most of which has never been investigated. Basic tools have been implemented to annotate features and measure distances within the Uruk-VR. The methodologies showcased here are scalable for creating digital twins of diverse terrains. Uruk-VR's potential extends to research, education and conservation, exemplifying how game engines can seamlessly integrate vast and diverse geospatial data in 3D space.