Structure-From-Motion-Based Photogrammetry and 3D Spatial Reconstruction at the Pānkān Archaeological Site (2014–2021)

Abstract

This study presents the application of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry and 3D spatial reconstruction methods at the archaeological site of Pānkān (Iraqi Kurdistan, 36 km northeast of Erbil), conducted by the Kurdish–Hungarian Archaeological Mission (KHAM) between 2014 and 2021. The digital documentation of the late Sasanian and early Islamic architectural complex resulted in high-precision, georeferenced 3D models and geographic information system (GIS) analyses. These integrated models facilitated detailed spatial analyses of the site and ensured digital preservation of cultural heritage, particularly considering the region’s unpredictability and associated risks. This research was supported by the EKÖP-24-4 University Research Grant Program, financed by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund.