Photogrammetry Application for 3D Modelling of an Inca Hydraulic Dissipator in Tipón using Pix4D

Photogrammetry has been one of the most important and useful tools for data collection using point clouds and for the precision it offers, so much so that total stations, differential GPS and other surveying equipment are being left behind in favour of this new tool. The application discussed in this article uses photogrammetry as a data recording and 3D computational modelling tool for the study of an Inca hydraulic dissipator located in the archaeological complex of Tipón, Cusco. The main objective is to generate a highly accurate three-dimensional model to document very detailed aspects such as the geometry, dimensions and construction characteristics of this ancient infrastructure, recognised for its importance in the Inca hydraulic system. The methodology consists of obtaining terrestrial images using a drone, followed by processing with the Pix4D programme, which allows dense point clouds, Ortho mosaics and textured meshes to be obtained. The model demonstrated high geometric fidelity and optimal density. A 1:7 scale 3D-printed replica allowed laboratory flow visualization of streamlines and streaklines under ultraviolet light, establishing a definitive empirical baseline to validate future Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations.