Geodesy meets archaeology: WUT researchers return to Libya

The research team numbers 24 people. In addition to our researchers, it consists mainly of archaeologists from the University of Warsaw, as well as conservators from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

"The research mission in Ptolemais, Libya, lasts one month, from 1 to 31 October 2026. The present visit continues many years of research by staff from the University of Warsaw Faculty of Archaeology. It is worth emphasising that, for many years, Polish researchers have been the only team authorised by the Libyan authorities to conduct research at Ptolemais," notes Professor Robert Olszewski of the WUT Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography.

Researchers from the WUT Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography return to Ptolemais

The team is producing maps, digital terrain models and 3D models of the ancient theatre, amphitheatre, the so-called Cistern Square, the Tokra Gate, the House of Leukaktios - also known as the Villa with a View - and other structures. Surveying and spatial modelling make it possible to document surviving remains, analyse their relative positions and establish a basis for research into the city’s transformation. Consistent spatial referencing, data quality and awareness of uncertainty are crucial: a wall that has been measured precisely is not necessarily dated with equal precision.

"Our current work involves surveying and preparing digital spatial documentation of selected structures and of the ancient city’s terrain. We are creating detailed maps of the ancient city and photorealistic 3D models of structures such as residential buildings, temples, the theatre, the amphitheatre, city gates and bridges. We are developing both models of their current condition - ruins in varying states of preservation - and digital reconstructions of the structures in their heyday. In this work, we cooperate closely with experts from the University of Warsaw Faculty of Archaeology. We combine surveying documentation with the information needed for archaeological interpretation of these places," says Professor Olszewski. "The aim is not merely to create an impressive 3D model of the current condition. Spatial documentation makes it possible to analyse the dimensions and relative positions of the remains, supports interpretation of the city’s layout and can provide a reference point for future assessments of the condition of its heritage assets. Repeated, comparable measurements can help detect changes and plan conservation work."

The London Charter and the Seville Principles, which promote rigour in the digital visualisation of cultural heritage, provide an important reference framework for the work. Their message is simple: a model should show not only what a structure may have looked like, but also how this is known and what remains a hypothesis requiring verification.

"They remind us that digital representations of heritage must distinguish between what has been measured and survives, and what has been reconstructed hypothetically. Geometric precision does not automatically imply certainty about dating or reconstruction. We want the models not only to help people view the past, but also to understand the basis on which it is interpreted," adds our researcher.

Researchers from the WUT Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography return to Ptolemais

For the WUT Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography team, interdisciplinary cooperation with archaeologists and conservators offers an opportunity for mutual learning and knowledge exchange. It brings surveying precision together with knowledge of the past, turning models and maps into not only visualisations but also tools for jointly uncovering more than two thousand years of Ptolemais’ history. For a surveyor, such a mission is an opportunity to view data through the eyes of those who use it. Our researchers learn which information matters to an archaeologist, how relationships between structures are interpreted and why an inconspicuous fragment of wall can be highly significant to understanding the history of an entire site. In turn, they contribute expertise in spatial referencing, measurement accuracy and limitations. They also share knowledge of spatial information modelling and the creation of digital maps and 3D models.

"Together, we set documentation priorities, discuss the significance of the remains being surveyed and review the results of our analyses. It is not a simple division between those who measure and those who interpret. Archaeological questions shape how measurements are taken, while the results of spatial analyses can prompt new research questions," explains Professor Robert Olszewski.

For our expert, the greatest value of the mission lies in working alongside people who view the same place from different, often very different, perspectives.

"Archaeologists help me recognise, within today’s ruins, traces of the successive stages of the city’s life. This exchange of knowledge is extremely inspiring. I am also pleased to be taking part in the mission with my doctoral students. It gives us an opportunity to tackle real research problems together and to see how our expertise supports the work of other specialists," Professor Olszewski says. "I am proud that, as the WUT Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography team, we can help shape such an undertaking - not only documenting heritage assets, but also learning from archaeologists and conservators how to study heritage responsibly."