An Aerial View of Ayutthaya Post-Floods
A detailed look at the effects of rain on Thailand’s monuments
Ayutthaya aerial photo by CyArkCyArk
Prone to floods, partly due to its location in the Central Lowlands, Ayutthaya is often victim to damage during the rainy season. Some years are worse than others.
Wat_chaiwatthanaram (2011-12-12) by เกริกชัย อินทร์ปอCyArk
Most of Wat Chaiwatthanaram was submerged and experienced extensive damage during the floods of 1995 and 2011.
Laser scanning ayutthaya by Kieran Kesner for CyArkCyArk
In 2017, CyArk, a non-profit whose mission is to create digital records of cultural sites, went to Ayutthaya to scan and photograph the temple of Wat Phra Si Sanphet before there was any further damage.
CyArk documents Ayutthaya with drone by CyArkCyArk
The group used drones to capture images of the Buddhist temples (chedi) and meditation centers (stupas) on location.
Ayutthaya scaffolding by CyArkCyArk
The project was done under the supervision of the Fine Arts Department who wanted to better understand just how much damage was done to their monuments in 2011 and how much work would be needed to restore them.
Laser scanning Ayutthaya by Kieran Kesner for CyArkCyArk
Digitally documenting sites like this helps researchers to get a precise idea of what a monument looks like at an exact moment in time, so that any further damage is easily recognized and prevented.
