Conference “From Aerostats to Drones: aerial imagery in Archaeology” Rome 3-5 Feb 2016

2nd International Conference of Aerial Archaeology
“From Aerostats to Drones: aerial imagery in Archaeology”
Rome, 3-4-5 February 2016

A few years after the 1st International Conference of Aerial Archaeology (Rome, 15-16 April 2009), the Laboratory of Ancient Topography and Photogrammetry (LABTAF) of the University of Salento, together with Ghent University (Belgium) and the University of Cassino, will organise a second event at the prestigious seat of the Academia Belgica in Rome, with the aim of rounding up the newest trends and acquisitions in the field of aerial survey and remote sensing in Archaeology. Hoping to give a fairly representative view of what are the main attitudes and basic methodologies that drive the Italian and international scene, our goal is to set up a dynamic meeting, open not only to the small circle of archaeologists, but extended to a wider public of specialists.

The Conference will be divided in four sessions:

 Session 1: state of the art, pioneering research and historical aerial imagery;
 Session 2: methodology and applications of aerial photo-interpretation and finalised photogrammetry;
 Session 3: presentation of projects which make systematic use of aerial photo interpretation.
 Session 4: entitled “Drones in Archaeology” will be devoted to applications of UAVs and new technologies connected to their use, with case-studies from Italy and abroad.

UAVs (or drones) are experiencing a growing exploitation thanks to the easy use and their low cost. A wide range of models and types is available on the market, but only few of them are suitable for scientific applications in the sector of Cultural Heritage. After the first pioneering applications, mainly focused on photogrammetic aerial survey, the use of UAVs extended to topographical survey and geomatics, 3D scanning, technical architectural drawing, mapping and monitoring of sites and of wider regions, turning them into very useful instruments for data-capturing, site management, documentation, environmental heritage preservation and management. UAVs became tools for producing detailed documentation in a short time and with low cost, and for efficient mapping of archaeological and architectural heritage, offering a diversified scale and resolution for every specific need. Furthermore, they have become more and more instruments for detection and survey.

Each session will include a key note lecture, oral presentations and posters.

The poster session will be held in the hall of the Academia Belgica.

Official languages Italian and English

Conference Scientific Committee Wouter Bracke (Academia Belgica, Roma) Giuseppe Ceraudo (Università del Salento, Italy) Cristina Corsi (Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, Italy) Veronica Ferrari (Università del Salento, Italy) Frank Vermeulen (Ghent University, Belgium) Robert Bewley (University of Oxford, England) Jean Bourgeois (Ghent University, Belgium) Stefano Campana (University of Cambridge, England) Dave Cowley (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland) Michael Doneus (University of Vienna, Austria) Darja Grosman (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) Marcello Guaitoli (Università del Salento, Italy) Christopher Musson (Aerial Archaeology Research Group) Stefania Quilici Gigli (Seconda Università di Napoli, Italy) Axel Posluschny (German Archaeological Institute, Germany) Wlodek Rączkowski (University of Poznań, Poland) Giuseppe Scardozzi (Istituto per i Beni Archeologici e Monumentali - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy) Elizabeth Jane Shepherd (Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione, Aerofototeca Nazionale - Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Italy)

The Organisers welcome abstract submission. Abstracts (stating affiliation of the authors) should not exceed 500 words (including title), and should indicate in which session they could be presented. They should be sent to the Organising Committee by 20 September 2015. By 15 October authors will be notified of their acceptance, whether for oral (20 min.) or poster presentation.

The Conference proceedings will be published in issue nr. 9 of the journal “Archeologia Aerea. Studi di Aerotopografia Archeologica”.

The deadline for paper submission is 15 March 2016. By 15 February 2016 the rules for contributors will be disseminated.

To facilitate the participation to the event and in particular to promote the attendance of young scholars, there will NOT be any registration fee to the Conference and contributions for the publication of the proceedings will NOT be requested.

For information and communications, please contact: labtaf@unisalento.it