The Ibercaja Foundation, in collaboration with the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology of the CSIC, has initiated an innovative 3D digitization project of the Güixas Cave in Villanúa, Huesca. Using advanced SLAM-LiDAR technology, the initiative aims to preserve and better understand this important underground heritage.
The technology implemented in this project is the mobile laser scanner LiGrip H120, which employs the SLAM-LiDAR system. This device emits laser light pulses in all directions, measuring the time of return to calculate distances with high precision. Thanks to thousands of measurements per second, the geometry of the cave can be recreated in three dimensions, generating a detailed map.
The combination of LiDAR and SLAM technologies is especially useful in underground environments, where traditional topographic methods are ineffective and satellite positioning systems do not work. This innovation allows for detailed spatial analysis, facilitating research and conservation of the environment.
Objectives and expected results of the project
Since 2017, the Quaternary Paleoenvironments and Global Change group of the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology has been leading this project with the goal of understanding the evolution and dynamics of the Güixas Cave. The resulting three-dimensional model, composed of millions of measurement points, enables morphometric analyses and simulations that support geological, ecological, and hydrological research.
This approach not only contributes to the conservation of the underground heritage but also improves its management, providing valuable data for future research and preservation strategies.
The Güixas Cave: a natural treasure
Located in the Collarada massif, along the Camino de Santiago, the Güixas Cave is an example of a dissolution cave formed by water in limestone during the Quaternary glaciations. Its interior houses calcareous formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, in addition to a torrential water course fed by siphons.
The cave also features a chimney that connects to the outside, used by the bats that inhabit it. This unique natural environment is now the subject of detailed study thanks to 3D digitization technology, which will allow for its long-term conservation and study.
