New Dimensions – LÅKPYNTEN, Svalbard

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The aim of the New Dimensions project, carried out by the forScience Foundation, was to document selected cultural monuments in southern Spitsbergen, Svalbard, in order to address existing knowledge gaps regarding their exact location and current condition. The project employed an integrated methodology combining terrestrial laser scanning with high-resolution ground-based and low-altitude digital photography. This approach enabled the creation of accurate visual and spatial records while ensuring no disturbance to documented structures and objects. The resulting project data constitute a comprehensive resource on cultural heritage within the project’s target area and provide a basis for further research, monitoring and long-term preservation efforts.

DATA TYPES: The data collected under the New Dimensions project has been assessed, processed and curated into a comprehensive collection of datasets containing the following data types: (1) CULTURAL HERITAGE CATALOGUE / .xlsx / Master Excel document containing a full list of documented monuments, incl. identification codes, GPS coordinates, overview of available visual and spatial data, supporting notes, environmental context and additional information; (2) GIS FILES / .gpkg / GeoPackage comprising geographically referenced spatial data on the general geographical areas and individual cultural monuments; (3) DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS / .jpg / Labelled ground-based and low-altitude digital photographs depicting individual monuments and their immediate surroundings; (4) ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHS / .tif / GeoTIFF files providing visual aerial data with embedded geographic metadata, georeferenced in the EPSG:4326 (WGS84) coordinate reference system; (5) TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANS / .las / Point clouds, georeferenced in the UTM Zone 33N coordinate reference system, shared along with corresponding panoramic photos and measurement accuracy reports.

AUTHORS: Compilation of the Cultural Heritage Catalogue, data and metadata preparation: Barbara Jóźwiak and Adam Nawrot, forScience Foundation | Ground-based digital photographs: Barbara Jóźwiak, forScience Foundation | Low-altitude photographs and orthophotographs: Adam Nawrot, forScience Foundation | Terrestrial laser scanning data: Artur Adamek and Igor Wronkowski.

For further details see Additional Info – Related publications: NEW DIMENSIONS USER GUIDE TO PROJECT DATA.