From Documentation to Strategic Planning: GIS-Based Survey and Assessment of AlUla’s Vernacular Wall Paintings

The Wall Painting Conservation in Old Town project, commissioned by the Royal Commission for AlUla(RCU) and executed by Opus Conservation, aims to document and study AlUla’s vernacular earthen wallpaintings. This initiative focuses on using Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) to catalogue over 900building units and to support the development of a comprehensive conservation framework. Systematiccoding assesses conservation priorities, while photogrammetry produces orthographic projections fordetailed condition mapping and material analysis. Despite challenges such as collapsed structures,accessibility barriers, and active construction, the team surveyed 912 units, identifying 372 with preservedwall paintings, totalling an estimated 18,000 m² of painted walls. The project now advances to a materialanalysis phase, employing non-invasive techniques alongside targeted invasive sampling. Theseinvestigations will refine preservation strategies, ensuring a sustainable conservation approach that bothprotects AlUla’s rich artistic heritage and contributes to its long-term cultural legacy.