Author: VARTHOLOMAIOS

New research project for the digitization and development of the 3D model of the Temple of Apollo Hylates in Limassol, Cyprus.

The Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company, as a partner in the European project “HERIT ADAPT – HERItage and territory resilience through sustainable Tourism climate change ADAPtation and ciTizen engagement”, under the Interreg Euro-MED Program, has launched a new research project for the creation of a 3D model of the Temple of Apollo Hylates in the Kourion area, Limassol District.

The research agreement, signed on October 21, 2024, involves a collaboration with Frederick University, which will lead the digital documentation and 3D scanning efforts. The digital model will be created using advanced scanning and photogrammetry technologies, ensuring high precision and clarity. The digital representation will cover the temple and its surrounding areas, including the stone base and the access stairs, with sub centimeter geometric accuracy.

The project’s objective is to provide a detailed 3D model that can be used for academic research, public education, and interactive online platforms. The final deliverables will include both high-resolution and optimized versions of the model, as well as aerial and ground photographs in digital format.

The project will be completed by March, 2025, with specific milestones, including a preliminary optimized model.

This collaboration is another step towards the sustainable development of Limassol’s cultural heritage and further enhances the city’s commitment to preserving its rich archaeological history through digital innovation.

Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates 3D Model

The Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company Ltd participated in the 2nd Technical Meeting and the 2nd Session of the Steering Committee of the HERIT ADAPT project of the Interreg Euro-Med Program, held on July 11-12, 2024, at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy.

HERIT ADAPT aims to find solutions, using technology, to make tourism more sustainable and cultural heritage sites more resilient and protected from the impacts of climate change.

During the Technical Meeting, the Work Packages and the implemented activities were presented in detail and were highlighted all the necessary actions for the proper and smooth implementation of the project. The project partners presented the 8 pilot sites where the Sustainable Tourism Model will be applied and the digital tools that will be utilized. They also discussed the planned activities for the pilot testing and the adaptation of cultural heritage sites to climate change and the management of tourist flows.

The Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company as a partner of the European project “HERIT ADAPT – HERItage and territory resilience through sustainable Tourism climate change ADAPtation and ciTizen engagement” of the Interreg Euro – MED sustainable tourism mission project HERIT ADAPT, held the first working meeting on June 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. at the Cyprus University of Technology. The meeting focused on the study and digitization of archaeological monuments in Limassol.

The working meeting began with a presentation of the project and the actions that need to be implemented to create a three-dimensional digital model of a monument in the Limassol District.

Participants in the meeting included on behalf of the Limassol Tourism Company, Mrs. Christina Kanellaki, European programs manager, Mrs. Maria Stylianou, General manager and on behalf of the Cyprus University of Technology Dr. Marinos Ioannides, Unesco Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage Mnemosyne, EU ERA Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage, Digital-Europe EUreka3D Project, Mr. Drew Baker, Digital Archaeologist, Mr. Panayiotis Panayiotou, HBIM scanning specialist and Mrs. Elena Karittevli, Historical Archaeologist.

During the meeting, the project’s actions were presented, and ways to achieve them through collaboration were discussed. Additionally, the possibility of creating a 3D model of the Temple of Apollo Hylates was explored. Dr. Marinos Ioannidis presented specific monuments that the Cyprus University of Technology has already created 3D models of, such as the Limassol Castle, Kolossi Castle, and Fikardou village.

The meeting was held within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Cyprus University of Technology and Limassol Tourism Company.