Talal Akasheh - 2008 Laureate

Akasheh (right) and colleagues measure one of Petra tower tombs, the Djinn Block number 89. For the GIS, the researchers also describe the monument's architecture and state of preservation. Akasheh and his team collate data on Petra's Obelisk Tomb. The GIS system will also be used to plan tourist trails to preserve the monuments and ensure safer conditions for visitors. With the GIS, Akasheh's collaborator Tahani al-Sahli can easily produce a map of Petra's geological features. A vital tool to manage the site. Weathering of the sandstone gives Petra its characteristic shapes and colours. The presence of water within the sandstone causes Petra's rock-carved monuments to dissolve, slowly destroying the site. The Treasury (Al Khazneh), a royal mausoleum, stands over 40 metres high in Petra. This iconic monument is threatened by weathering, erosion and tourism development. Petra's 3,000 monuments, most built by the Nabataeans, include a Roman-style theatre. All will be covered by Akasheh's information system. With its Nabataean and Roman-style monuments carved into the sandstone cliffs, the ancient city of Petra is a highlight of Jordan's tourism industry Rugged sandstone cliffs in the middle of the desert provide a dramatic backdrop for Petra. The city's name meens 'rock' in Greek. Talal Akasheh has created a geo-archaeological information system (GIS) to ensure and manage the conservation of Petra's threatened rock-carved monuments. Struck by the beauty of the site, Talal Akasheh is setting up a means to reduce the natural and manmade damage to ancient Petra. The constant passage of tourists and guides on Petra's soft sandstone erodes the city's features such as this ancient, rock carved stair. Once the sole inhabitants of the ancient city, Bedouins now play an active role in Petra's booming tourism industry. With its tarmac roads, pollution and loss of vegetation, the development of nearby tourist town Wadi Musa affects the preservation of Petra.
Akasheh (right) and colleagues measure one of Petra tower tombs, the Djinn Block number 89. For the GIS, the researchers also describe the monument's architecture and state of preservation.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Akasheh (right) and colleagues measure one of Petra tower tombs, the Djinn Block number 89. For the GIS, the researchers also describe the monument's architecture and state of preservation.

Akasheh and his team collate data on Petra's Obelisk Tomb. The GIS system will also be used to plan tourist trails to preserve the monuments and ensure safer conditions for visitors.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Akasheh and his team collate data on Petra's Obelisk Tomb. The GIS system will also be used to plan tourist trails to preserve the monuments and ensure safer conditions for visitors.

With the GIS, Akasheh's collaborator Tahani al-Sahli can easily produce a map of Petra's geological features. A vital tool to manage the site.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
With the GIS, Akasheh's collaborator Tahani al-Sahli can easily produce a map of Petra's geological features. A vital tool to manage the site.

Weathering of the sandstone gives Petra its characteristic shapes and colours.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Weathering of the sandstone gives Petra its characteristic shapes and colours.

The presence of water within the sandstone causes Petra's rock-carved monuments to dissolve, slowly destroying the site.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
The presence of water within the sandstone causes Petra's rock-carved monuments to dissolve, slowly destroying the site.

The Treasury (Al Khazneh), a royal mausoleum, stands over 40 metres high in Petra. This iconic monument is threatened by weathering, erosion and tourism development.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
The Treasury (Al Khazneh), a royal mausoleum, stands over 40 metres high in Petra. This iconic monument is threatened by weathering, erosion and tourism development.

Petra's 3,000 monuments, most built by the Nabataeans, include a Roman-style theatre. All will be covered by Akasheh's information system.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Petra's 3,000 monuments, most built by the Nabataeans, include a Roman-style theatre. All will be covered by Akasheh's information system.

With its Nabataean and Roman-style monuments carved into the sandstone cliffs, the ancient city of Petra is a highlight of Jordan's tourism industry

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
With its Nabataean and Roman-style monuments carved into the sandstone cliffs, the ancient city of Petra is a highlight of Jordan's tourism industry

Rugged sandstone cliffs in the middle of the desert provide a dramatic backdrop for Petra. The city's name meens 'rock' in Greek.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Wadi Musa, Jordan, 2008
Rugged sandstone cliffs in the middle of the desert provide a dramatic backdrop for Petra. The city's name meens 'rock' in Greek.

Talal Akasheh has created a geo-archaeological information system (GIS) to ensure and manage the conservation of Petra's threatened rock-carved monuments.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Talal Akasheh has created a geo-archaeological information system (GIS) to ensure and manage the conservation of Petra's threatened rock-carved monuments.

Struck by the beauty of the site, Talal Akasheh is setting up a means to reduce the natural and manmade damage to ancient Petra.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Struck by the beauty of the site, Talal Akasheh is setting up a means to reduce the natural and manmade damage to ancient Petra.

The constant passage of tourists and guides on Petra's soft sandstone erodes the city's features such as this ancient, rock carved stair.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
The constant passage of tourists and guides on Petra's soft sandstone erodes the city's features such as this ancient, rock carved stair.

Once the sole inhabitants of the ancient city, Bedouins now play an active role in Petra's booming tourism industry.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Petra, Jordan, 2008
Once the sole inhabitants of the ancient city, Bedouins now play an active role in Petra's booming tourism industry.

With its tarmac roads, pollution and loss of vegetation, the development of nearby tourist town Wadi Musa affects the preservation of Petra.

©RolexAwards/Marc Latzel

Wadi Musa, Jordan, 2008
With its tarmac roads, pollution and loss of vegetation, the development of nearby tourist town Wadi Musa affects the preservation of Petra.