Geospatial Analysis for Decoding Architectural Configuration of Ruins of a Coastal Fort: The Case of Fort Vijaydurg, Konkan, India

Abstract. Documentation and architectural interpretation of ruins of historic buildings is a complex process. Architectural interpretation based on inadequate documentation can result in an undervalued understanding of historic significance and, consequently, flawed or failed conservation projects. The Konkan region in western India has faced challenges in scientific conservation due to a lack of documentation and inadequate architectural interpretation. This coastal belt comprises over 170 forts, many of which are in various stages of ruin. The paper focuses on Fort Vijaydurg in southern Konkan as a case study. Vijaydurg played a pivotal role in withstanding the expansionist agendas of the European trading companies of the eighteenth century. The paper presents a methodology for combining viewshed analysis, 3D photogrammetric output, archival research, and field observations to investigate the role of architectural elements in a fort, particularly those in a state of ruins. The methodology enables the deciphering of the logic behind site selection and the rationale for the spatial configuration of a fort. The empirical results can strengthen the historic significance. The paper contributes to the study of the forts of Konkan by rethinking ways of engaging with the surviving ruins. The methodology can be extended to the ruins of coastal heritage sites worldwide.