Digitizing Cultural Heritage Through Low-Cost Photogrammetry: A Scalable Framework for Erbil City, KRI

The cultural heritage of Erbil City, recognized as a treasure trove of historical significance, is under escalating threat due to various interrelated factors, including ongoing conflict, pervasive environmental degradation, and a range of illicit activities that compromise its integrity. While urgent documentation and preservation efforts are imperative for safeguarding this invaluable heritage, conventional techniques often remain prohibitively expensive and largely inaccessible for many regions, particularly those affected by conflict and economic instability. This study represents a pioneering initiative that employs affordable photogrammetry as a scalable, cost-efficient solution aimed at protecting archaeological sites and artifacts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Concentrating specifically on Erbil's heritage buildings, the Salahaddin University-Erbil Archaeology Museum (SAM), and the Erbil Museum (HM), we illustrate how readily available smartphone cameras, when paired with Agisoft Metashape software, can effectively generate precise three-dimensional models using the structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique. Our results unequivocally demonstrate the capability to create highly accurate reconstructions, achieving levels of precision that are comparable to professional-grade equipment, with the reconstruction of artifacts realized to within a few millimeters and architectural structures to within a centimeter or two. Beyond the critical aspect of technical validation, this approach significantly democratizes access to heritage preservation, thereby empowering local communities, researchers, and educators with the necessary tools for digital archiving, education, and public engagement. By bridging the often-remarkable gap between affordability and precision, this research provides a replicable framework for global heritage sites that face similar challenges of preservation. Furthermore, it underscores the transformative potential of accessible technology in fostering community-led preservation efforts and ensuring the longevity of cultural memory in regions prone to crises and instability (Al-Saied et al., 2023, p. 00265).