A team of RMIT University researchers worked in the United Arab Emirates last month assisting the Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority.

Ahmad Khalifa Al Shamsi, Chairman, Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority; Dr David Silcock; His Highness, the Fujairah Crown Prince, Mohamed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi; Associate Professor Colin Arrowsmith; and Mohamed Al Hassani.

The researchers from the School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences spent more than two weeks undertaking 3D laser scanning of important cultural, historic and natural tourism sites in and around the city.

Associate Professor Colin Arrowsmith, Dr David Silcock, Lucas Holden and Mohamed Al Hassani were working with the authority to establish a three-dimensional baseline model.

Associate Professor Arrowsmith said climate change would impact upon Fujairah's natural and cultural resources and the economic benefits that flow from tourism.

"Our research is exploring how changing climatic conditions will impact upon each of these tourism resources," he said.

"In addition, due to Fujairah's geographic location, tectonic activity in the area puts its cultural and natural sites at risk.

"This project, in essence, will provide a baseline snapshot of the natural and cultural resources."

Associate Professor Arrowsmith said that from this baseline, measurements could be taken overtime to enable changes, and the rates of those changes in features surveyed to be ascertained.

"From this project it is anticipated that further surveys of cultural and natural heritage sites can be undertaken," he said.

During the trip they met with His Highness, the Fujairah Crown Prince, Mohamed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, to present their work on Fujairah Fort, Al Bidya Mosque and Bithna Fort.

His Highness welcomed and thanked the delegation, which was accompanied to the meeting by authority members Ahmad Al Shamsi and Saeed Al Samahi.

"His Highness welcomed the group back to continue their work with the authority in the near future," Associate Professor Arrowsmith said.

The reconstruction of cultural, heritage or archaeological sites requires 3D documentation and was usually done using traditional surveying techniques, but the researchers in Fujairah used terrestrial 3D laser scanning.

Professor Arrowsmith said this would become the future standard tool for high-resolution 3D documentation of archaeological, cultural, heritage and natural sites.

The researchers thanked the authority for supporting their work and for their hospitality during their stay.

Source: RMIT University http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=d0xf6c0nyc9r;STATUS=A