REPORT ON THE DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 4TH CENTURY SUSA (WORK IN PROGRESS)

Abstract

The reconstructive study of the urban arrangement of Susa in the fourth century arise from the intention to exploit some resources derived by local studies and survey activities fulfilled by innovative methods from which the modeling of architectural heritage (AH) and virtual reconstructions are derived. The digital Segusio presented in this paper is the result of intensive discussion and exchange of data and information shared among the urban landscape documentation activities, and systems of virtual models generation, able to provide the charm of an ancient landscape. The land survey has been accomplished using aerial and terrestrial acquisition systems, mainly using digital photogrammetry from UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and terrestrial laser scanning. Results of both methods have been integrated to medium scale geographical data available from regional map repository and some processing and visualization supported by GIS (Geographical Information System) have been fulfilled. Then, starting from accurate and detailed DEM (digital elevation model) and from other architectural scale models concerning the ancient heritage, the modelling of the ancient scenery arose. The reconstruction of an ancient scene begins with an accurate account of all the evidences from the studies of materials and documentary sources. The analysis and representation of the territory, supervised with the tools of geographic data management, are therefore primarily a media of analysis, then of comparison and validation with other data. Only after these steps, the land and the built heritage models become tools of communication and education, which are the typical functions of the virtual reconstruction of ancient environments. The integration of the history of city with digital and multimedia resources will be offered to the public in the city museum housed in the restored castle of Maria Adelaide, which stands in the place where the acropolis of the city lay in ancient times