Creation of surface model using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry in cultural heritage areas: The example of Kilistra Ancient City

Historic buildings have been damaged by natural events and human hands for centuries. For this reason, the importance of studies on the preservation, documentation and restoration of historical buildings is increasing worldwide. In addition, technological opportunities are also becoming necessary for carrying out more comprehensive studies on the sustainability of historical buildings. Studies on modelling many cultural heritage (CH) works worldwide continue. Precise data about the structure must be obtained to evaluate these models in reconstruction studies. In parallel with technological developments, the measurement sensitivity of devices in this field has also increased. In addition, different technological tools that will assist in measurement activities are entering our lives daily. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems are one of them. 3D data from UAVs and photogrammetric systems are sensitive data obtained quickly and cheaply. This data provides the opportunity to be used in interdisciplinary studies. This study investigates the use of UAVs in the digital documentation study of the Ancient City of Kilistra in Konya/Gökyurt. The study showed that UAVs are more practical and effective than traditional measurement techniques. It has been revealed that, if appropriate conditions are provided, UAVs can be a suitable alternative in terms of time and cost in documenting CH sites. Finally, it has been determined that the high-resolution digital maps obtained not only speed up the process of documenting large areas but also provide advantages in accuracy and precision.