Articles by Ugo Santoro

This paper describes a methodology for using the GIS Arc/Info system as an operating tool to study excavation finds and structures on an archaeological site. The choice of the archaeological sample site (Villa Rufolo, Ravello - Italy) and the definition of information and methodologies useful to its study and management were the result of collaboration between a photogrammetry partnership (S.F.M.) and the “N. Cilento” archaeological laboratory of the University of Salerno. The GIS architecture was developed starting from the analysis of methods common to both the research methodologies (landscape recognition and stratigraphic excavations), which define the phases of archaeological data manipulation. The main aim was to create a tool which, starting from the planimetric documentation of each excavation, could link the various environments to their related stratigraphic units through data derived both from the individual structures and from artefacts. Following Arc/Info data models, all information was arranged into a relational database. The Stratigraphic Unit (US) attribute forms the link which connects the graphical elements, geographical and spatial database, and the descriptive database. Data stored can be analysed using many criteria, and the GIS always makes it possible to display the graphic results of the analysis. Besides the management, integration and manipulation of the archaeological data assigned to the territory under investigation, with Arch/Info various data levels can be combined for the purpose of producing new types of information; this information is usually acquired by employing techniques of data overlapping and through statistic and classification processing of all the stratigraphic units related to the site. The next stage of our project will consist of a careful check of the results of the statistical and classification processes and the use of this model at other archaeological sites so as to exploit the GIS potential for comparing excavation data as well as the geomorphologic and geographic features of the various sites.

Studies in historic urban sites are very important for the defence and conservation of monuments and to preserve buildings. In this context particular consideration has to be used to layer-object, that is submerged structures and what is adjacent. With modern tools for photogrammetry bearing we can have numerical cartography with topological entities; it offers the means for structural and spatial study of objects. This can be drawn from their context and returned in 3D after some inspections. Useful elements can be added to numerical-cartographic maps by digital orthoimages resulting in mapping and storage operations. Our software inputs four files: - a tiff file storing the orthoimage - an ascii file with .par extension (the aim of this extension, like the following ones, is only indicative) containing rotoscalotraslation coefficients - an ascii file with .dtm extension containing che (x-y-z) coordinates of some generic points - an ascii file with .brk extension containing the (x-y-z) coordinates of some break-line points. Fundamental characteristic of this software is the possibility of recording orthoimages with no loss of geometrical information. The implemented functions include the possibility of displaying the orthoimage on PC screen, zoom in and zoom out, showing the geographic coordinates (East, North) in real time, creating more layouts for drawing, calculating distance between polygons, lines or points, calculating areas and perimeters, showing the altitude (approximation), displaying a DTM (digital terrain model). The interface is very friendly. Now our goal is rendering this prototype independent from its development environment.