This paper presents certain reflections concerning an interdisciplinary project between medieval archaeologists from the University of Florence (Italy) and computer science researchers from CNRS, National Center for Scientific Research, (France), aiming towards a connection between 3D spatial representation and archaeological knowledge. We try to develop an integrated system for archaeological 3D survey and all other types of archaeological data and knowledge by incorporating observable (material) and non-graphic (interpretive) data. Survey plays a central role, since it is both a metric representation of the archaeological site and, to a wider extent, an interpretation of it (being also a common basis for communication between the two teams). More specifically, 3D survey is crucial, allowing archaeologists to connect actual spatial assets to the stratigraphic formation processes (i.e., to the archaeological time) and to translate spatial observations into historical interpretation of the site. It is well known that laser scanner, photogrammetry and computer vision are very useful tools for archaeologists, although the integration of the representation of space, as well as archaeological time has not yet found a methodological standard of reference. We propose a common formalism for describing photogrammetric survey and archaeological knowledge stemming from ontologies: indeed, ontologies are fully used to model and store 3D data and archaeological knowledge. We equip this formalism with a qualitative representation of time, starting from archaeological stratigraphy. Stratigraphic analyses (both of excavated deposits and of upstanding structures) are closely related to Edward Cecil Harris's theory of the "Unit of Stratigraphication" (referred to as "US", while a stratigraphic unit of an upstanding structure Unita Stratigrafica Murale, in Italian, will be referred to as "USM"). Every US is connected to the others by geometric, topological and, eventually, temporal links, and these are recorded by the 3D photogrammetric survey. However, the limitations of the Harris matrix approach led us to use another formalism for representing stratigraphic relationships, namely Qualitative Constraints Networks (QCN), which was successfully used in the domain of knowledge representation and reasoning in artificial intelligence for representing temporal relations.

ABSTRACT:The paper presents some reflexions concerning an interdisciplinary project between Medieval Archaeologists from the University of Florence (Italy) and ICT researchers from CNRS LSIS of Marseille (France), aiming towards a connection between 3D spatial representation and archaeological knowledge. It is well known that Laser Scanner, Photogrammetry and Computer Vision are very attractive tools for archaeologists, although the integration of representation of space and representation of archaeological time has not yet found a methodological standard of reference. We try to develop an integrated system for archaeological 3D survey and all other types of archaeological data and knowledge through integrating observable (material) and non-graphic (interpretive) data. Survey plays a central role, since it is both a metric representation of the archaeological site and, to a wider extent, an interpretation of it (being also a common basis for communication between the 2 teams). More specifically 3D survey is crucial, allowing archaeologists to connect actual spatial assets to the stratigraphic formation processes (i.e. to the archaeological time) and to translate spatial observations into historical interpretation of the site. We propose a common formalism for describing photogrammetrical survey and archaeological knowledge stemming from ontologies: Indeed, ontologies are fully used to model and store 3D data and archaeological knowledge. Xe equip this formalism with a qualitative representation of time. Stratigraphic analyses (both of excavated deposits and of upstanding structures) are closely related to E. C. Harris theory of "Stratigraphic Unit" ("US" from now on). Every US is connected to the others by geometric, topological and, eventually, temporal links, and are recorded by the 3D photogrammetric survey. However, the limitations of the Harris Matrix approach lead to use another representation formalism for stratigraphic relationships, namely Qualitative Constraints Networks (QCN) successfully used in the domain of knowledge representation and reasoning in artificial intelligence for representing temporal relations.

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Abstract:Since the Renaissance, the remains, myths and visual representations of ancient Rome have influenced not only European culture but also the architecture and urban planning of the big cities of Europe and of the Americas through the process of colonization. The University of Caen Basse-Normandie (France) has a famous visual representation of ancient Rome in the scale model of Paul Bigot, a French architect who lived at the beginning of the 20th century. This exceptional part of our cultural heritage has been the pretext for a virtual reconstruction of ancient Rome. The technologies used and, in particular, the interactive visit with access to ancient source materials give a new life to the myth. Our team has developed a fully interactive model of ancient Rome which allows a visitor to move freely in a full-scale city and enter the main public buildings as well as some private apartments. The aim is both scientific and didactic. Scholars can use the model as a regularly updated database for reference and possible experiments. The general public can visualize a world that is now beyond their reach. This paper will focus on a particular example ======================================== HISTORICAL SOCIAL HOUSING: SMART ANALYSIS AND DESIGN FOR CONSERVATION AND ENERGY REGENERATION Abstract:The article presents the results of a methodological study aimed at the development of an integrated, intelligent and expeditious system for the understanding, evaluation, and upgrading of energy efficiency in historical urban social housing neighborhood's. The possibilities offered by GIS and ICT systems were explored for the analysis and planning of building and energy improvements. The purpose of the study was to provide a support tool for upgrade projects planned for social housing which would include the multiple variables necessary for an understanding of the transformation process which led to the current state of the buildings, and which would be able to provide alternatives and solutions for their regeneration.

ABSTRACT:San Domenico Church (Prato, Tuscan, Italy) is a very peculiar case of terrestrial archaeology surveyed with underwater archaeological photogrammetric approach. The vault of the choir was completely filled by a very important numbers of potteries, which is very interesting building technique. To document this technique a complete photogrammetric survey was realized, layer by layer, following underwater archaeology system. It is interesting to note that in underwater archaeology such a case is quite rare, in fact or the wreck is in shallow water and the digging can be made (but this case is now unrealistic because in shallow water all the wreck have been stolen -or already excavated by archaeologist -!) or we are in deep water, with well conserved wreck but the depth doesn't allow the excavation. In the last case only a surface survey is possible. Also for these reasons this particular case-study is very interesting in order to test underwater methods on real case. This experimentation is a good opportunity to develop and check methods, algorithm and software to obtain a relevant model of the site merging 3D measure and knowledge about the artefact as typology, theoretical model, spatial relationship between them. Even if this work started in 2006, with now obsolete digital camera and with a photographic campaign which not respect always the current constraints for building a dense cloud of point in photogrammetry,it is now used as a case-study for developing a relevant approach for underwater archaeology survey.