LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO A BUDDHIST CARVED ROCK SCULPTURE

Abstract. The Swat valley (Pakistan) has always been considered an important center of Gandhara art. Due to the unfavourable conditions, this artistic phenomenon has long been almost ignored or underestimated, but its documentation is essential for study the symbolism of the figures, their spatial organization, their stylistic variation and their conservative state. The methodology proposed in this project starts form the 3D acquisition with a structured light system in order to obtain a 3D high resolution model of Buddhist carved rock sculpture. From the 3D geometry, The Digital Elevation Model is produced. This DEM is the starting points for the surface analysis using Remote Sensing approaches for classify landforms using pattern recognition. The surface is considered as a landscape, where carved are valleys bordered by slopes and crests. Hillshading, slope analysis and geomorphons are used in order to highlight the surface feature, to “read” all the details not visible due to the bad condition and to map surface state of conservation.