Measuring the Classic Marathon Course

The Classic Marathon Course in the greater Athens area is an important cultural heritage item, both tangible and intangible, as it also signifies the mentality of the ancient Greeks of the 5th c. BC. Moreover it is one of the more difficult Marathon courses in the modern era and for that reason many runners desire to compete on this course. Road courses are measured by certified experts using internationally approved methods. In this paper an alternative method for measuring the Classic Marathon Course using photogrammetric methodology is presented. The course is surveyed in a stereoscopic environment and therefore the measurement is performed directly in 3D space. Its accuracy is thoroughly investigated and its performance is compared to the approved conventional method and assessed for its efficiency and accuracy.