Ivan KISJES | Raphaël PANHUYSEN
(University of Amsterdam, ACASA – Department of Archaeology, The Netherlands)

Keywords: UAV, 3D visualisation, post medieval fortifications, cultural heritage

Abstract:
Because of its strategic position around a bridge crossing the river Meuse the city of Maastricht was considered of key importance to defend or invade the Low Countries. Since the sixteenth century the urban fortifications were expanded to defend the city against besieging armies. Until 1867 these fortifications were continuously improved. Although the walls and earthworks lost their function due to developments in the military in the nineteenth century, large sections of the fortifications have been preserved until today. Not only these robust and impressive constructions are still standing, in archives there is also a wealth of original documents and plans related to the construction of the fortifications. One of the most fascinating sources for the history of the fortifications and the city is a scale model made in 1748-1750 after the French armies of Louis XV had conquered Maastricht in the war of the Austrian Succession.
In preparation of a plan to study and document the fortifications of Maastricht a research project was launched to map a section of the fortifications applying among others a photogrammetric documentation with a small drone. The project aims to combine old documentation with new data in a digital format for multiple purposes ranging from heritage management to information to the public. In total an area of circa 250 by 200 metres of the well preserved section of the “Hoge Fronten” was documented. This section includes fortifications of the third circumvallation, later outer fortifications consisting of brick walls and large earthworks. The model based on the photogrammetric data indicates that in some areas the original elevation was preserved in great detail. In this presentation we will compare the collected data and model with available elevation datasets, old plans and the 18th century scale model and discuss the differences between the various forms of documentation and possible implications for the cultural heritage management of the site.