Imaging and image fusion applied to cultural heritage structures: Case studies from the Pyramids of Giza.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR), ultrasonic testing (UST), and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) are established non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques used to examine civil structures and characterize their materials. Doing so for complex large structures in the cultural heritage field can be difficult, especially if surfaces are rough, exhibit degradation, or if they are built of large blocks with unknown joint properties. To overcome the limitations and capitalize on the strengths of any one technique, a multi-modal approach is recommended. Image fusion (IF) allows merging reconstructed images obtained from multiple NDT techniques into a single composite image that can be interpreted in a holistic and straightforward manner. While highly advanced and used routinely in the medical field, IF is still rarely employed in the NDT of civil structures. In this presentation, imaging and three-way IF based on GPR, UST, and ERT measurements are introduced, and results are presented from select locations from the Pyramids of the Giza Plateau. The benefits of IF for the interpretation and cross-confirmation of individual measurement techniques are discussed. --- The work presented was performed under the ScanPyramids project, a large multinational research effort, involving partners from Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, and Japan. The project is coordinated by Cairo University in Giza, Egypt, and the Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute (HIP Institute) in Paris, France and carried out under the supervision of the Supreme Council of the Antiquities of Egypt.     «

Ground penetrating radar (GPR), ultrasonic testing (UST), and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) are established non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques used to examine civil structures and characterize their materials. Doing so for complex large structures in the cultural heritage field can be difficult, especially if surfaces are rough, exhibit degradation, or if they are built of large blocks with unknown joint properties. To overcome the limitations and capitalize on the strengths of a...     »