* Corresponding Author Cite this article * (karataslale@gmail.com) ORCID ID 0000-0001-8582-4612 (aydinalptekin@mersin.edu.tr)) ORCID ID 0000-0002-5605-0758 (atilakarabacak@mersin.edu.tr) ORCID ID 0000 – 0002 – 1096 – 3949 (myakar@mersin.edu.tr) ORCID ID 0000-0002-2664-625 Karataş, L. Alptekin, A., Karabacak, A., & Yakar, M. (2022). Detection and documentation of stone material deterioration in historical masonry buildings using UAV photogrammetry: A case study of Mersin Sarisih Inn. Mersin Photogrammetry Journal, 4(2), 53-61 Mersin Photogrammetry Journal – 2022, 4(2), 53-61 Mersin Photogrammetry Journal https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/mephoj e-ISSN 2687-654X Detection and documentation of stone material deterioration in historical masonry buildings using UAV photogrammetry: A case study of Mersin Sarisih Inn Lale Karataş *1 , Aydın Alptekin 2 , Atilla Karabacak 3 , Murat Yakar 4 1 Mardin Artuklu University, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Mardin, Türkiye 2 Mersin University, Department of Geological Engineering, Mersin, Türkiye 3 Mersin University, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Mersin, Türkiye 4 Mersin University, Geomatics Engineering Department, Mersin, Türkiye Keywords Abstract Cultural heritage UAV Photogrammetry Material deterioration Detection of material degradation of urban facades constitutes a preliminary activity for the preparation of any restoration response project. The traditional method for fixation relies on mechanical contact means and requires a great time effort to obtain a few preliminary points. In addition, the size of buildings and historical places make it difficult to examine the types of material deterioration, and on-site visual analyzes and current inspections by experts can also lead to human-induced errors. The development of methods based on UAV photogrammetry in order to reduce the labor force and margin of error in solving this situation brings great convenience for the detection of material deterioration in historical areas. The aim of the study carried out in this context is to document the material problems of "Sarışıh Han", a historical masonry building located in the Tarsus district of Mersin, which is of great importance for its continuity. Contributing to the documentation, detection and repair of financial problems for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the region and thus the sustainable management of the structures in the geographical region. In this context, material problems in the structure were documented using UAV photogrammetry method. In the study, the use of UAV photogrammetry to support the constraints of material deteriorations allows for more detailed results in façade analysis of material deteriorations, leading to simplification of manual and direct search procedures. Research Article DOI:10.53093/mephoj.1198605 Received: 02.11.2022 Revised: 05.12.2022 Accepted: 19.12.2022 Published: 22.12.2022 1. Introduction Historical buildings are heritage sites that ensure the sustainability of collective memories such as the lifestyles and beliefs of past societies. Stone, which is the most used material in movable and immovable cultural heritage in these areas, which helps to reconstruct history, is under threat due to deterioration processes due to various reasons. These deteriorations in historical buildings are caused by natural environmental factors such as meteorological conditions and anthropological factors such as air pollution, as well as the properties of the materials that make up the building. For example, rain water, which is a natural factor, accelerates the dissolution processes after freezing / thawing cycles, and also increases the amount of deterioration by accelerating the mechanical events in the structure of the stone by creating changes in the chemical structure of the stone [1]. In addition, the side exposed to water shows significant erosion in the limestones [2-10]. In addition, various studies in the literature report that the effect of water on stone structures tends to increase the acidity of atmospheric pollutants over time, which further increases erosion and color change in stones [11,12]. Failure to take control and precautions in stone deterioration caused by the effects of water can turn small-scale (for example, flaking, fragmentation, cracking) deterioration into larger-scale deterioration over time, and this may lead to loss of cultural traces in historical areas [13]. For this reason, pre-detection and mapping of material deterioration in order to take the