University seminar "Horizons of Science Disciplines", April 23, 2026
The Center for Advanced Studies at Warsaw University of Technology invites you to the university-wide scientific seminar Horizons of Scientific Disciplines .
The seminar aims to present the achievements of teams representing specific disciplines at Warsaw University of Technology. The planned meeting, focusing on civil engineering, geodesy, and transportation, entitled " How does technology rediscover history? ", will feature lectures by: Jakub Markiewicz, PhD, Eng., Wojciech Ostrowski, PhD, Eng., Sebastian Różycki (WGiK, WUT). The following speakers will be: Agnieszka Bocheńska, MA (Royal Castle in Warsaw), Aleksandra Janus , PhD (Zapomniane Foundation). The moderator will be Katarzyna Osińska-Skotak, PhD, Eng. (WGiK).
During the meeting, three topics will be presented:
(1) Reconstructing Architectural Documentation of Historic Buildings , Dr. DSc, Eng. Jakub Markiewicz , professor at the university.
This presentation will present methods for reconstructing documentation of historic buildings based on archival materials, with particular emphasis on photogrammetric techniques. The process of 2D and 3D reconstruction of archaeological site no. 4 in Biskupin will be discussed, using pre-war photographs from 1934–1939 as the main data source. Data preparation stages will be presented, including image calibration and orientation, generating a dense point cloud, and creating orthophotomaps and 3D models. The application of 3D modeling methods from a single image and the Shape-from-Shadow technique, useful when working with limited data sets, will also be discussed. Examples of reconstruction of missing documentation for buildings such as the "Altar of the Fatherland" altar in the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw and the destroyed statue of the Great Buddha in Bamiyan (Afghanistan), will be presented. The integration of photogrammetric reconstructions with archaeological and architectural documentation will also be demonstrated, including structural analysis of buildings at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The presentation will highlight the advantages of modern data processing methods that allow archival photographs to be "revived" and reliable documentation of historical monuments. Attention will be paid to the need to combine automatic algorithms with manual measurements and to properly calibrate non-metric images, as well as the importance of consciously selecting documentation methods in accordance with the principles of the London Charter and the distinction between documentation and visualization.
(2) Digital Documentation and Data Management from Archaeological Excavations , Dr. Wojciech Ostrowski,
Eng. The aim of this presentation is to present how modern measurement technologies—geodetic, photogrammetric, and database—are used in ongoing excavation documentation. The discussion will be based on the experience of the Warsaw University of Technology team in testing and then implementing these solutions in archaeological research conducted in Paphos, Cyprus. Archaeologists from the University of Warsaw and the Jagiellonian University are conducting research at this site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a result of collaboration between the Warsaw University of Technology and the Jagiellonian University on field documentation methodology, these excavations have been systematically documented using photogrammetric methods since 2016. Since 2020, the Arches database, developed by the Getty Institute, has been used to manage field data. The presentation will discuss both the reasons for and effects of implementing new technical solutions. The latest expansion of the database system, implemented for the Jagiellonian University as part of the IDUB Mare Nostrum flagship project, will also be presented.
(3) Reconstructing the Topography of the Treblinka II Extermination Camp: Between Archives, Geophysics, and Archaeology , Dr. Sebastian Różycki
, Eng. This presentation will focus on the results of interdisciplinary research conducted at the former Treblinka II extermination camp, aimed at reconstructing its topography and better understanding its mechanisms. The main goal of the presentation is to demonstrate how modern geoinformation technologies, analysis of archival materials, geophysical research, and archaeology allow for the reinterpretation of the landscape of a place almost completely erased after the war. Of particular importance is desk research, which includes analysis of archival aerial photographs, maps, and witness accounts, which form the basis for formulating field hypotheses. The results of geophysical research, which allows for the non-invasive identification of structures hidden beneath the ground surface, will also be discussed. The results of archaeological research, conducted with respect for the nature of the memorial site, will also be an important element of the presentation. The combination of these methods led to the identification of both previously known and new relics of the camp infrastructure, including remains related to the gas chamber zone. This research shows that even in intentionally destroyed sites, it is possible to recover knowledge about their spatial layout and history. From a broader perspective, the presentation will attempt to answer the question of how technology can support not only understanding the past but also preserving the memory of the victims.
The online meeting will take place on April 23, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. on the TEAMS platform .
Link to register for the meeting: seminar.
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at hdn.csz[at]pw.edu.pl
We invite all interested parties to participate in the seminar.
Doctoral students wishing to complete the seminar at the WUT Doctoral School are kindly requested to register their participation (name, surname, student ID number) at hdn.csz[at]pw.edu.pl; registration will be verified against the attendance list at the event.