VISUALISATION OF THE ST. TRINITATIS CHURCH, LIEPAJA, LATVIA
When our common project 3 D Bridge started in the 1.9.2005, it was a continuation to our earlier projects in St. Trinitatis Church in Liepaja, Latvia. Seinäjoki Polytechnic had started co-operation with St. Trinitatis Church and City of Liepaja in year 1998 and we have already had two projects of conservation and documentation of the St. Trinitatis church. Because of these projects we had collected a lot of documentation material about the parts and details of the church, but this material could not give an answer to two important issues – church as a building and the main problem of it – sinking of the pillars.
These two things have also been our themes in the 3 D Bridge –project. Our objectives are to make a 3 D - model of the St. Trinitatis Church and to create a monitoring system by means of which the sinking of the church pillars can be observed. By this 3-dimensional model we have also studied the possibilities to use this pilot monitoring system in other valuable buildings of cultural heritage.
The project started by planning the modelling work. First step in modelling was to make measurements for the model. This meant that we needed accurate measures about the building, both internal and external. Measurements were made by laser scanner and were purchased from Tieliikelaitos, Finland. During the autumn 2005 all existing documentation material was search through and groundwork for the actual 3 D – model was done. When measurement material was ready, we started treatment of the point cloud material. This has proceeded with difficulties, but at last suitable software for this work was found and now modelling is going further. At the same time with modelling work, we have tried to find good and simple way to demonstrate the sinking in the church. Work continues to August 2006.
Up to the present we can see some of the results even if the modelling of the church is still going on. During this modelling project co-operation with old and familiar partners has strengthen. We have also found new partners and measurements made by laser scanning and making 3 D model from point cloud material has given us a lot experience. For Latvian partners this project has already given opportunity to be better known internationally. This means especially the St. Trinitatis Church but also the Evangelical-Lutheran Consistory of Latvia and the City of Liepaja.
When this project ends in August 2006 and we got 3-dimensional model of St. Trinitatis church and the monitoring system ready, this project will also give a tool to the St. Trinitatis Church to continue restoration work in the church. We hope that in forthcoming years, control measurement can be done regularly in the church. Following this kind of settling is a long process and results of this monitoring may be seen not earlier than after several years.
Outi Orhanen
Conservator, Lecturer in Building Conservation
School of Culture and Design
Seinäjoki Polytechnic,
