Preservation and management of the UNESCO world heritage site of Bamiyan: Laser scan documentation and virtual reconstruction of the destroyed Buddha figures and the archaeological remains

Abstract

Since the destruction of the Giant Buddhas in Bamiyan in the year 2001 consolidation and emergency stabilization works under the auspices of UNESCO and ICOMOS have progressed. The more than 1000m spanning cliff wall was scanned with a terrestrial laser scan system and a 3D model of the cliff was derived from the measurements. After removing the large fragments from the niche of the Eastern 38m Buddha a detailed laser scan was conducted and a textured 3D model of the empty niche generated in order to study the damages of the back wall in detail. From historic images and contour line drawings a 3D surface model of the destroyed 38m Buddha figure was created and successfully integrated into the 3D textured model of the scanned niche. The result has been processed for presentation in an immersive 3D Cave Automated Virtual environment CAVE at the Virtual Reality Center at RWTH Aachen University. The complex real-time stereo projection is computed by a high-end computer cluster and adapts the projected image to the spectator eyes and movement by head tracking with infrared devices. The previous state can be compared to the actual condition and serves as a communication and planning tool among the different expert groups working on the site for discussion on ongoing stabilization and restoration measures and future consolidation works. It is now possible to generate conventional 2D documentation material (sections, plans) precisely from any part of the virtual model in order to plan and conduct further detailed damage assessments and analysis on site. The virtual model incorporates the results of scientific explorations and detailed damage assessments. It will serve as demonstration and experimentation model when exploring the possibilities of a future anastylosis of portions of the figure. The system was adapted to the needs of an exhibition on Gandhara Art in Germany in a special installation set-up reducing the amount of data to a minimum in order to achieve a real time rendering of the 3D model of the entire cliff and the reconstructed 38m Buddha figure with limited computer resources. The documentation work and the virtual reconstruction is embedded in the long term management plan for the entire World Heritage Site.