Ricerc@Sapienza

Currently, the knowledge of archaeological and cultural heritage artefacts is asking for the use of 3D models. Innovative tools constantly developed make it possible for the scholars to adopt an integrative approach accessible by everyone involved in the whole process of archaeological and cultural heritage surveying and representation. The topic here discussed aims to investigate a workflow that allows a non-expert user to produce and manage a Structure from Motion 3D model, considering all the parameters that concern the reliability of the model and its scale.

In recent years, the use of Image-Based Modeling (IBM) and Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetric techniques is increasing in the area of surveying. The quality parameters of this type of survey, widely practiced, are not today univocally defined. In fact, in order to be tested, metric quality often requires comparison with the acquisitions made with other technologies and, at the same time, the definition of color quality is a field still little explored, although it provides significant information content.

The sculpted temples of the complex constitute a synthesis of spirituality, architecture, and landscape based on the unity of art, science, and technology. Codified by Hinduism, they were endowed with symbols, drawings, iconographies, and depictions of historical and literary events, all realized in order to communicate the divine. An analysis of the gigantic granite blocks, decomposing and recomposing them again through 3D/2D models allow identifying their formal, symbolic, metric, and geometric aspects that ensure Hindu sacral architecture a most significant expressive power

I templi scultura del complesso di Mahabalipuram costituiscono la sintesi tra spiritualità, architettura e paesaggio, che rimanda all’unità tra arte, scienza e tecnica. Codificati dall'induismo e costruiti con simboli, disegni, iconografie e raffigurazioni di eventi storici e letterari, vengono realizzati per comunicare il divino. L’analisi di queste grandi masse granitiche, scomposte e ricomposte attraverso modelli, consente di individuare gli aspetti formali, simbolici, metrici e geometrici che danno all’architettura sacra induista una forza comunicativa molto importante.

The contribution investigates some examples of the architectural heritage developed in Naples with the expansion and regeneration plan of the city between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with particular reference to villa Pappone in Posillipo, identifying the decorative features of the Art Nouveau that have given expressiveness to architecture.

Many cultural assets are in risky situations and they are destined to disappear. Sometimes problems are caused by the anthropic component (e.g. wars) or by natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and landslides). At other times the cause of deterioration is due to the slow and inexorable action of atmospheric agents and other natural factors present in extreme areas, where preservation of Cultural Heritage is more complex.

Sometimes, the georeferencing of a cave in the global reference system can be challenging. Some difficulties may arise when narrow passages do not allow the use of classical topographic equipment or a terrestrial laser scanner. In these specific cases, the surveyor can employ a visual-based approach to produce both the followed path and the 3D model of the hypogeum. The report we are presenting is the result of a survey in the Guattari cave carried out using images taken by a Huawei P9 mobile phone and a Nikon D800E camera with a 16mm fisheye lens.

The survey of ancient cave can generally be performed by traditional topographic methods that allow also its georeferencing in a global
reference frame; some difficulties may arise when there are narrow tunnels that do not consent the use of a total station or a terrestrial
laser scanner. In such cases a visual-based approach can be used to produce, both the followed path and the 3D model of the hypogeal
environment. A prompt photogrammetric survey has been used to reconstruct the morphology of the La Sassa Cave, situated in the

Caves have been used by humans and animals for several thousand years until present but, at these time scales, their structures can rapidly change due to erosion and concretion processes. For this reason, the availability of precise 3D models improves the data quality and quantity allowing the reconstruction of their ancient appearance, structure and origin. However, caves are usually characterised by lack of light, high percentage of relative humidity, narrow spaces and complex morphology. Thus, quite often the traditional topographic instruments cannot be employed.

In the geomatics field, modelling and georeferencing complex speleological structures are some of the most challenging issues. The use of conventional survey methods (for example, those employing total stations or terrestrial laser scanner) becomes more difficult, especially because of the space constraints and the often critical light conditions. In this work, a flexible and swift methodology to survey an in-progress excavation is presented, through image-based modelling techniques.