ORIGINAL PAPER Geomatics techniques and ground penetration radar for archaeological documentation of Al-Salt castle in Jordan Rami I. Al-Ruzouq & Abdelrahman A. Abueladas Received: 15 February 2011 / Accepted: 9 July 2013 / Published online: 31 July 2013 # Società Italiana di Fotogrammetria e Topografia (SIFET) 2013 Abstract The protection and proper management of archae- ological heritage are essential for studying and interpretation of present and future generations. The protection of archae- ological heritage must be based upon effective collaboration between professionals from many disciplines. In this study, knowledge from different sources and research areas like photogrammetric science, Ground penetrating Radar (GPR) and geographic information system (GIS) has been integrat- ed and established for documentations of one of the impor- tant archaeological sites (Al-Salt Castle, Jordan) where historic-strategic importance refers to the ages of the Asian kings and ottomans sultans. Three dimensional (3D) model- ing is the representation of features, shapes and texture. The 3D coordinates resulting from photogrammetric adjustment procedures were used to create a 3D model of the study area. Textures added to the surfaces of 3D models give a real world appearance to displayed model. Geophysical methods such as GPR were used to explore the buried objects as well as underlying structure of the study area. Finally, a GIS system that includes boundary maps, precise point location of archaeological sites, transportation layer, digital elevation model, ortho-images and geology of the area is stored in a geospatial database system. The system is designed to allow easy and flexible updating of the database. For realistic representation of the study area, a three-dimensional GIS was prepared for the Al-Salt castle in Jordan, where efficient generation, management and visualization of such special data were established. Keywords Archeology . 3D Modeling . Orthophoto . DTM . Close-range photogrammetry . GPR Introduction Protection and proper management of archeological sites are essential for archaeologists and other scholars to study and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations. Photogrammetry has been applied to the planning, recording, reconstruction and revitalization of world heritage sites. Among the emerging application areas for three-dimensional Geographic Information (3D GIS) are archaeology and the preservation of cultural heritage (Huxhold and Levinsohn 1995; Wüst et al. 2004). In this study, a 3D GIS Database was prepared for management and visualization of large 3D landscape, maps, digital elevation models, orthophoto and satellite images where various photogrammetry models have been developed for one of the most important archeological discoveries in Jordan (Al-Salt castle). The objectives of this study can be summarized by the following points: & Photogrammetric techniques were adopted for genera- tion of digital elevation model and orthophoto using aerial photographs. The orthophoto was adopted as the base map for all GIS layers (spatial, non-spatial data and geophysical) that needed archaeological documentation of the castle. & Close-range phothogrammetry was used for three- dimensional modeling of Al-Salt castle which includes representation of features, shapes and texture. & Geophysical methods (GPR) were used to explore the bur- ied objects as well as underlying structure of the study area. & Geospatial databases system was established. This sys- tem consists of photogrammetric products, GPR sections and geospatial layers (boundary maps, precise point R. I. Al-Ruzouq (*) University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates e-mail: alruzouq@gmail.com A. A. Abueladas Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan e-mail: aabueladas@yahoo.com Appl Geomat (2013) 5:255–269 DOI 10.1007/s12518-013-0116-6