Marcello Ciminale

Non-destructive exploration in the Archaeological Park of Metaponto (Southern Italy)

A non-intrusive investigation combining complementary technologies has been carried out in the Archaeological Park of Metaponto (southern Italy). A multitemporal analysis of aerial photographs acquired at different times and a high-resolution magnetic survey provided useful information about the buried archaeological features of the ancient Greek colony. The use of GIS and image processing technologies allowed a highly effective integration of all aerial and magnetic data, leading to more rigorous correlation of the different results. This modern approach yielded new and relevant information contributing to improve knowledge of the town-planning of the Greek colony. Copyright

A new reconfigurable stepped frequency GPR system, possibilities and issues; applications to two different Cultural Heritage Resources

Some results achieved from a reconfigurable stepped frequency GPR system will be presented. The aim is to show the possibilities of a reconfigurable architecture for a GPR system within the noninvasive prospecting of the Cultural Heritage. In particular, two sites (indoor and outdoor, respectively) have been chosen, in order to test the system in different situations that pose different problems. The same sites have been prospected also with a commercial pulsed system, in order i) to work out a comparative heuristic analysis and ii) to plan possible future advancements improving the reconfigurable system.

Integration of multisensor data: an experiment in the archaeological park of Egnazia (Apulia, Southern Italy)

In this paper, we present a case study conducted in the archaeological park of Egnazia (Apulia, Southern Italy) based on the integrated use of two different ground-penetrating radar systems plus a magnetometer. The surveys were carried out using a pulsed ground-penetrating radar system, a prototypal reconfigurable stepped frequency ground-penetrating radar and a high-resolution magnetometer. The most important anomalies identified are ascribable to the presence of a massive building structure mainly consisting of masonry, probably dating from the Roman age. Emphasis is on the integration of the results, which has made it possible to produce enhanced images. In particular, two different approaches based on (i) algebraic and (ii) RGB combinations of the data gathered with the three sensors are illustrated and discussed.

Applications of a reconfigurable stepped frequency GPR in the chapel of the Holy Spirit, Lecce (Italy)

We present the first application in the field of a reconfigurable stepped frequency system. The system has been designed in collaboration between the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage IBAM-CNR Lecce the Department of. Electronics and Telecommuncations of the University of Florence and the Company Ingegneria dei Sistemi IDS S.p.A., Pisa. We show some results achieved in the chapel of the ex hospital of the Holy Spirit in Lecce and we compare them with the results obtained by using a commercial pulsed GPR system.

Reconfigurability of the integration time in stepped frequency GPR systems

In this paper, we propose some results regarding the possibility to reconfigure the integration time of each harmonic tone of a stepped frequency GPR system in a programmable way. It will be shown that this can allow the rejection of undesired narrow band interferences on the received signal without needing to filter the signal (which can degrade the achievable resolution), and with only a slight increasing of the time required to perform the measure. This is made possible by a reconfigurable system, as it will be shown.

Applications of conventional and non-conventional GPR systems in the Viking remains of Torget

The results of a geophysical survey conducted in the main square of Trondheim (Norway) are presented. Trondheim is one of the oldest major cities with urban settlement dating back to the Viking ages, and below the current square archaeological test excavations have revealed preserved cultural layers; the oldest from the 10th century. We carried out a geophysical survey in the South Eastern quadrant using three different GPR systems: a reconfigurable prototype stepped frequency GPR, a pulsed GSSI GPR system and a 3DRadar stepped frequency device. The selected area represents a natural test site. In fact, the main topic of our geophysical campaign was to recognize, in an urban context, the presence of known archaeological remains and to compare the performances of the prototype device with two traditional GPR devices. Comparable results have been achieved, as it will be shown.