PRESERVED IN 3D: Grand Mosque of Djenne, Mali, a UNESCO World Heritage site will be digitally documented by the Zamani Project

Africa is arguably the most misunderstood continent on earth. It hides secrets, treasures and ancient wisdom in the forms of lost civilizations, architecture, art and cultures. Now a group of scientists is attempting to uncover and preserve at least a small part of Africa.

Under the expert supervision of Professor Heinz Rüther, the Zamani Project was initiated in the Geomatics Division of the University of Cape Town and is currently funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The project, founded as "the African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Project," developed out of years of heritage documentation activities by Rüther.

"Zamani is the Swahili word for 'the past.' In layman's terms, the Zamani Project is a documentation project on African heritage sites, which preserves Africa's history for the future in digital format. The data can be used for conservation, restoration, research and education," said Rüther.

 "The documentation comprises 3D computer models of historical buildings and structures, of Geographic Information Systems, 3D terrain models of surrounding landscapes, panorama photography, videos and other spatial information."

In other words, the project attempts to capture the spatial domain of heritage by accurately recording its physical and architectural nature and dimensions. Sites are seen in the context of their physical environment and landscapes surrounding sites are documented based on satellite and aerial imagery, wherever possible.

The documentation project was initiated to increase international awareness of African heritage and provide material for research while, at the same time, creating a permanent metrically accurate record of important sites for restoration and conservation purposes.

The team has completed documentation work in Ghana, Mali, Kenya, Sudan, Egypt, Cameroon, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa.

So what are the main objectives of the project?

"To provide data for the future, should sites deteriorate or be destroyed," said Rüther. He said in an effort to digitally record the data, the project tried to be holistic.

"We combine technologies and different ways of conveying information and also our data is used for conservation and restoration, which is an additional objective. At present, the data is used for restoration, for instance, at Lalibela in Ethiopia by UNESCO and the World Monument Fund and in Songo Mnara in Tanzania by an international team of conservators and archaeologists. The data can also be used for site management, for example at the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, the design of a tourist walkway will be based on our data. We also intend to use the data to create replicas (true to scale) of rock art shelters to allow people who cannot physically visit the sites to get an impression in 3D," said Rüther.

It seems the data has endless applications. It can also be used to assist in the control of the effects of natural disasters by providing, for example, information for the design of structures built to protect important archaeological sites from flooding.  

But the future of this amazing project is bleak.

"At this stage it's in limbo," said Rüther, adding the team is using its last funds to complete three more projects this year, after which the project might have to close down. 

"The Zamani team is extremely dedicated and experienced and I consider myself very lucky to work with such a group. There always have been problems to find funding for research but the recent economic crisis has worsened the problems substantially," said Rüther.

Working as a geomatician in remote parts of Africa may sound like something from a romance novel but is filled with peril of all kinds.

 "We do get volunteers to help us but they need to understand that it's not a picnic out there. They can't have any illusions of the territory and the often-harsh conditions. It is physically demanding and there are risks like health and safety, etc." 

The biggest risk, however, is that these dedicated, deeply committed and passionate scientists may not be able to continue with their work due to lack of funding, something that should not be allowed to happen. As a continent, we simply cannot afford to lose them. As the saying goes, "We are borrowing this land from our children and we owe them a vision of their past."

(For more info: http://www.zamani-project.org/)