CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY
The primary purpose of this research was to carrying out a complete engineering study about
the Galle Fort. After the study, the collected data will be preserved in order to use them in future
studies. The data was stored in a database with a linked interactive map. The interactive map
can be used as an alternative method to extract data from the database.
The engineering study was divided into four main categories apart from the literature review
according to the list below.
1. The geotechnical engineering aspect of Galle Fort
2. The water resources planning and management
3. The transportation and spatial planning
4. The aesthetic aspects of the Galle Fort
Under each category the available literature was reviewed. Site surveys and experiments were
carried out for investigations. Most of the details about the engineering evolution of Galle Fort
were collected through literatures. Other than that, old maps of Galle Fort were instrumental in
understanding the evolution of the fortifications and roads within it.
The detailed description of engineering surveys and experiments were discussed under each
category. These surveys were mostly carried out to investigate the current situation of the
system. These surveys can be classified under above four categories and were described in
above sections.





























Transportation and spatial
planning Aspect

Water and Waste
water Engineering
Aspect

Geotechnical
Engineering Aspect

Aesthetic Aspect of
Galle Fort
Analyze collected data
Literature review
Engineering
Evolution of
Galle Fort
Store collected data
in a Database
Interactive map
of Galle Fort
Figure 3.1 Methodology
3.1 THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING ASPECT OF GALLE FORT
Prior to the fortifications, the terrain in Galle Fort was an uninhabited rocky peninsula. The
construction of Fort has transformed the natural terrain in to a higher land with encircling
ramparts. One of the prime purposes of this section of the research is to understand the soil
profile of Galle Fort and explore the engineering properties of the enclosing fortifications.
Since the Galle Fort is historically and archeologically important monument, the engineering
investigations within the premises should be limited with number of excavations. The engineering
investigations were commenced following by a reconnaissance survey. It was instrumental in
planning the detailed site investigations in subsurface soil profile.
3.1.1 Electrical Resistivity (ER) Survey
In order to get general view of the soil profile around the rampart, electrical resistivity survey
was carried out. The ER survey was done along four segments of the Galle fort in the Northern
and the Western areas. The coordinates of the starting point of the survey lines are shown in
Table 3.1.















Figure 3.2 Locations of Electrical Resistivity survey

Table 3.1 Locations of the starting points of the survey lines
Line N-coordinate E-coordinate
1 6 4 38.00 80 11 28.00
2 6 157.45 80 12 57.45
3 6 1 37.14 80 12 51.88
4 6 1 46.27 80 12 49.97

3.1.2 Wash Boring
Wash boring was carried out at three locations, identified based on ER survey. The three bore
hole locations are shown in Figure 3.4. Bore hole No. 1 is at in front of the northern rampart
whereas bore hole No 2 is at top of the northern rampart. Bore hole No 3 is located at western
part of the rampart.








The above mentioned tests evaluate the details of the subsurface soil of the Galle Fort. It is well
known that the after encircling the peninsula, the area had been backfilled with another material.
As this structure stands for about 400 years without major devastations, it was necessary to
evaluate the compaction characteristics of the backfill material.


Figure 3.3 - Borehole locations
Borehole No 2
Borehole No 1
Borehole No 3
N
3.1.3 Geo technical analysis of the ramparts of Galle Fort
The analysis was performed on three different cross sections considering the results of the
investigation of sub surface profile and the historical data, paying more attention to the evolution
of the Northern rampart throughout the four centuries. The Northern rampart was selected for
this analysis because, it has got the largest height of the rampart and it is the oldest section of
the rampart which all the three nations Portuguese, Dutch and British have contributed in the
constructions of it.

3.2 THE WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
The Galle Fort has a 400 years old drainage network which is still functioning properly. The
main objective under this part of the research was to study the evolution of this drainage
network. Also there is a wide spread belief, that the drains of the network were flushed using
tidal movements of the sea. Experimenting feasibilities of using tidal movement in flushing
drains had been another objective.

During the research literature were reviewed in order to understand the evolution of the
drainage network. Most of the reports during colonial era were about political and social
changes of the Galle Fort. It was a challenge to extract the engineering details from these
reports.

Other than the literature, we discussed with the residents of Galle Fort. These interviews were
important in understanding historical details in drainage system. Some of the discussions were
combined with Galle Heritage Foundation which is responsible in conserving Galle Fort as a
historic cultural city center and a site of archaeological importance and develop it to be a cultural
tourist location of excellence.

Topological data and leveling data of the Galle Fort were collected from the Galle Municipal
council. However these dataset was incomplete and carrying out a leveling survey had been a
necessity to fill the missing topological data.





































Discussion with residents of
Galle Fort
Literature review
Leveling survey to
fill the missing
topological data
Collection of
topological data from
the Municipal Council,
Galle
Investigation of the
drainage network of Galle
Fort including Outlets and
Manholes
Discussion with Galle
Heritage Foundation
Evolution of the
Drainage
network
Suggestions for proper
management of the
drainage network
Figure 3.4 Methodology
3.3 THE TRANSPORTATION AND SPATIAL PLANNING
The work was carried out to get an in depth understanding about the transportation and
spatial planning practices that have been adopted in the Galle Fort.

The data were collected from Galle Heritage Foundation, Survey Department, Archeological
Department and National Archives and Post Graduate Institute of Archeology Library. The book
Galle fort the heritage city by K D Paranawithana (2006) and the book Galle as Quite as a
Asleep by Norah Roberts (1993) are reviewed during methodology. However most of the
available literatures were belongs to government reports. Therefore it was challenging task find
engineering information related to the transportation network.

Most of the old maps depict the road network clearly. However due to the absence of maps
during Portuguese era and early Dutch era, the road network during that time is difficult to
evaluate. The materials used for pave the roads or the width of a road and the condition of
paths cannot be evaluate using maps.

Senior citizens were interviewed to understand the evolution of the transportation networks and
public places. The main considerations of the interviews are listed below.

The location of Public facilities that was located within the fort.
Transportation modes used.
Change of transportation/road network across time
Road pavement materials in the past and how it changed across time.
Other transportation related information in their time and received from their
forefathers.
Satisfaction about the present transportation network and the road size (width).
The changes of the transportation network.
Gathering places of people in the past and present.
Problems related to the present transportation network (parking, side walk, traffic).
Commonly used common places previously.
Recreational activities in the early time and their changes.


3.4 THE AESTHETIC ASPECTS OF THE GALLE FORT
Understanding evolution of the aesthetic aspects of Galle Fort is done in several steps.
First the significant view points and view corridors within the Fort were identified. This is done by
observed people behavior to identify significant place used frequently by users. The most
popular places are considered as the most significant places from the aesthetic perspective.
The 14 bastions and ramparts as shown in the Figure 5.1, were taken as viewpoints and view
corridors respectively. The views from the bastions were studied in detail through site visits,
discussions with visitors, studying the historical maps, illustrations and other descriptions.
Identification of admired landscapes was done, by considering the views from those. The
outcomes of previously concluded research were related to confirm, the views which are
associated with higher usage. The evolution of above views was investigated in depth to find out
details of associations related to those landscapes.
The old Fishermark bastion has been removed recently during the rehabilitation works in the
rampart. Therefore it was excluded from the view point list. The Aeolus bastion is also excluded,
as the view from there, does not significantly differ from those adjacent bastions.

















Flag rock
Lighthouse
Sun
Moon
Star Zwart
Clippenburg
Neptune
Triton
Aurora
Akesloot

Figure 3.5 - View points





























Identify significant view
points and view corridors
Study the views of the
selected view points and
view corridors
Identification of admired
landscapes
Suggestions for proper
management of the
drainage network

Investigation of the
evolution of above
views deeply.
Figure 3.6
3.5 DEVELOPING A THREE DIMENSIONAL INTERCTIVE MAP FOR GALLE FORT















3.5.1 IDENTIFYING THE BEST 3D MODELING SOFTWARE
Currently several 3D modeling software products are available in the market. Capabilities and
limitations of these products were studied to select the most suitable 3D modeling tool to
automate the 3D development process. Among them Google Sketchup was identified as the
best choice in developing 3D models considering the cost and the functionalities it offers.
Google Sketchup is a 3D modeling tool used in civil, architectural, mechanical and game
applications. This program includes a tool panel which allows users to develop their models in a
pre defined layout. Various styles and effects can be added to the model using the tool box.
Development of the database.
Collect necessary physical data of
the structures
Identifying the best available 3D
modeling software

Identify the potential candidates for
computerization




Development of the interactive
component.
Development of the 3D map.



Development of
3D Interactive Map
Figure
One of the most innovative features in Sketchup is the Pushpull functionality which can be
used to add a third dimension to a two dimensional objects.

3.5.2 DEVELOPMENT OF THE 3D INTERACTIVEMAP
All parameters and attribute data pertaining to 3D objects in the map were stored in a
MySQL database.

As discussed above, the 3D map can be considered as a cluster of 3D models. An individual 3D
model represents a structure in particular area. To develop the 3D model of a structure, the
physical dimensions of the structure, its geo graphical location and facing direction were
needed. As an example to develop 3D model of a building, the height, length and width of the
structure, the coordinate of the building location and where is this building facing were needed.
These kinds of data related to 3D models in the map were stored in a MySQL database.








The data relevant to the model were extracted during run time.
The objective of storing data in a database was to facilitate data extraction during runtime. It
means when a building was developed using the automated process, the construction details
such as coordinates of the building, height and length will be extracted from the database
automatically (refer Appendix A). Therefore no need of manual interpretation in inserting these
data to 3D model. Therefore the possibility of occurring errors in the dimensions of the building
Figure 1 Data recodes in the Building table
can be eliminated at the step of data insertion to the database. This will also simplify modifying
3D models. We dont need to change the whole 3D model to modify dimensions or the location
of an individual 3D model. We can do it by changing the attribute values in the relevant data
record in the database.
Ruby extensions to automate the development process.
The development of the 3D map is done by Ruby extensions. Ruby extensions were written
using native Ruby language and Sketchup Ruby API functions. These extensions can be saved
in the plugins directory of the Sketchup folder. These plugins can be executed by calling them
from the Sketchup GUI (Graphical User Interface) [5]. During the research, several Ruby
extensions were developed with several Ruby classes and a main Ruby program.









During the runtime, the Ruby extension will develop the 3D models of the structures in the Galle
Fort.
The main Ruby program will initiate the development of the 3D map. It will create a new
Sketchup active model for the 3D map. It will connect to the MySQL database and retrieve the
necessary construction details to the Ruby 3D development class (refer Appendix A).
Three Ruby classes were developed to instantiate 3D models like buildings, gunpoints and
bastions. These classes require input parameters. These input parameters will be passed to the
Ruby classes at the object creation. The Ruby class consists of the instructions to build the 3D
Main
program
Database
Ruby class
Retrieving parameter
Values
Pass the parameter values
to the Ruby class
Develop the 3D model according
to the parameter values
Figure
model. As an example, Building class has four input parameters namely model, corner
coordinates, height and the building id (refer Appendix B). These parameters will be passed to
the building class at the time of the creation of the building object. The building class has the
instructions to develop the 3D model of a building. It will use the values of these parameters and
build the 3D model of the relevant building.
Addressing issues in repetitive components in the structures in the 3D map.
Generally structures have identical items such as stairs, columns, windows and doors. They
have repetitive line of identical objects. These are potential candidates for loop functions.
Initially a single item was developed and later the loop functionality was used replicate the items
at desired geographical locations. As an example after creating a single column, a for loop is
applied to repeat it during particular number of times to get a line if columns (Refer Appendix C).













Figure Three Dimensional interactive map

Figure 4 A 3D model with repetitive columns

Developing interactive component of the 3D map
The MySQL database was created to store data pertaining to objects. The data contained in the
database can be categorized into two groups according to their usage. Generally buildings,
gunpoints and roads tables contain the details which will be needed during the model
development process. This data will be extracted and used during runtime which means at the
time of development of the 3D map. These details may bear no significant importance for
general users including tourists.
Conversely historical and important information about the objects in the map are important to
general users. In this project this kinds of general information about the structures were stored
in a separate table in the database so that users can access these data. While interacting with
the map, users have to trigger the on click action on the interested 3D model to retrieve
information. Then the information related to that structure will be displayed on the screen in
HTML dialog box (refer Appendix D).












Figure Data records in Object table

Figure 6 Data retrieval process

The procedure for triggering an on click action is to develop a special Sketchup tool which is a
special Ruby Sketchup interface which needed to create a SketchUp tool. This tool will be able
to pick the point where the user clicked, locate the 3D model which correlate with the point and
display information. The methods of the class should be containing the instructions to handle
the required event.