Database And GIS Technical Description
Our database consists of the following parts:
1- General which includes the location of the archaeological monuments or features, its function, and its general area location.
2- Architectural: which includes the facades, and their typology, dimensions of the feature if applicable (such as for chambers, dams cisterns, facades), description of the doors and their decorations, description of columns and their capitals and bases, pediments, entablatures and cornices.
3- Geologic: Micro sedimentology; faults and Joints at the micro scale, micro weathering and its type (chemical, physical and biological), the dominant type of weathering, and a quick assessment of the damage of the features due to weathering.
4- Touristic information. This is especially useful to indicate the routes to be taken to reach a particular monument and how safe it is to get there without a guide.
5- A bibliography that is updated as long as the means are available.
6- Every feature is linked to its image so that one could see what the feature looks like in the office.
7- As a help to standardize the architectural terminolgy, the glossary published by McKenzie in her book "the Architecture of Petra" is included in our tables so as to constantly refer to it when needed.
On the other hand using the geographical coordinates collected for the database, an AIS (Archaeological Information System) was designed and implemented. It is a very flexible system in the sense that the data created for the database can be displaced on a map at any scale one desires. data from the database is supplemented by Digital Terrain Models (DTM). Contours at any resolution above one meter, and a large number of satellite imagery and aerial photographs from various sources and dating back to many years ago (as far back as 1966). The system was used to conduct environmental studies, statistical analysis, tourism impact studies, and flashflood risk analysis. Currently we have updated the system with the Rolex Award and hope that within the next two years we will be able to allow researchers a limited access to the AIS. The system is currently being used by the Petra Archaeological Park Authority for the daily management of the site.
For more information read the following article