Recording the Endangered Heritage of Shanasheel Wooden Houses in Iraq (EWAP)

The project aims to apply state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies, such as Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) combined with GIS, to produce highly accurate 2D and 3D documentation of the endangered Shanasheel houses in Iraq. These houses represent a prominent prototype of vernacular architecture and are significant landmarks due to their structural, aesthetic, and artistic qualities.

Their historical significance derives from traditional construction methods that reflect a rich cultural diversity, capturing the remnants of historic communities and architectural influences, including Abbasid, Ottoman, Christian, Nestorian, Jewish, and Yazidi traditions. The houses also display complex patterns, calligraphic inscriptions, and artistic expressions characteristic of various ethnic, religious, and social groups. The project develops a creative documentation workflow for intricate wooden structures and enables comprehensive spatial analysis to support heritage management.

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Remote Sensing | School of Civil Engineering | University of Leeds