The intersection of archeology, photo/videography, and 3D modeling allowed for preservation of a historic site, thanks a concerted effort from Dr. Celia Bergoffen, an archeologist and adjunct associate professor of History of Art at FIT, and Petr Hejl, chief creative officer, PhotoFlight Aerial Media LLC. 

What began as a typical construction job in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, ended up with an unusual surprise. During the construction of an 18-unit apartment building, the crew accidentally struck upon an unknown structure–something Dr. Celia Bergoffen, an archeologist and adjunct associate professor of History of Art at FIT, was called in to identify. What they found were four interconnecting vaults measuring 22 feet wide, 14 feet tall and at least 40 feet long just 14 feet below grade (street level). Dr. Bergoffen informed the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), which recommended archaeological assessment. That assessment became a collaborative effort to identify and document the vaults, which were surprisingly well preserved and historically significant. Bergoffen worked with Petr Hejl (chief creative officer, PhotoFlight Aerial Media LLC) to capture photos and video from which Matthias Kolbe PhD, researcher, German Archaeological Institute (DAI), Berlin, created the 3D model. The intersection of archeology, photo/videography, and 3D modeling allowed for preservation of this historic site.