Graphic survey and 3D virtual restoration of a 16th century watch tower: Navidad tower (Cartagena, Spain)

Abstract

In 1557, King Philip II started a project consisting in the creation of a network of watch and defence towers for the coast, which would be used to warn neighbouring towns of the frequent pirate attacks. After having examined the area and having planned the number and location of such towers, a great number of these defensive buildings were constructed all along the Mediterranean coastline. Unfortunately, this important historical and architectural heritage of the Mediterranean coastline has lost one of its main characteristics, unity, since many of these towers have disappeared and some of them are neglected. In the Region of Murcia, from the twelve coast towers that were built for watch and defence purposes, eight towers have disappeared. Three towers have been recently restored. From the old watch towers there is only one left, which is almost ruined, and no intervention is planned to guarantee its proper preservation and enhancement: Navidad Tower. That is why this tower has been chosen to be studied and graphically documented. Thus, the research project that is being developed is mainly aimed at depicting the common legacy of all watch and defence towers in the Murcian coastline and documenting the Navidad by laser scanner and photogrammetry in order to obtain the three-dimensional model. This graphic work shall be subsequently supplemented with the carrying out of works for the dissemination of documentation. Likewise, an analysis of towers through the use of Geographic Information Systems. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.