Archaeological surveys

The real question is: what precision do you need?
Accuracy, scale, resolution and level of detail of the survey are always defined together with the customer, depending on the specific objectives.
A survey can be used for very different activities - documentation, design, monitoring, structural analysis, securing - and each of these requires different requirements for detail and accuracy.
Clearly establishing the needs for scale and accuracy is a fundamental step already in the design phase of the survey. Only in this way can we ensure that the data collected are truly functional for their final use.

In the reference system best suited to your needs.
We can provide data in local, absolute, national map, linear or orthometric systems, depending on the intended use.
The choice of reference system is a fundamental aspect, often underestimated but decisive, especially when: one has to integrate data from different sources or techniques, one is doing monitoring, one is working over very large areas or long infrastructures, one is interacting with national or international mapping systems.
The correct handling of geodetic issues has always been an integral and fundamental part of our working method.
Always remember that the Earth is not flat - nor is it perfectly spherical - and that tectonic movements and local deformations can influence measurements.
Ensuring consistency, precision and geodetic rigour has been one of our main strengths for years, even and especially when the importance of these aspects is not immediately apparent.

We can provide: 3D surface models, point clouds, orthophotos in colour or black and white, plans, elevations and CAD sections. The output is designed together with you, optimised for the actual needs of your project. Based on your objective, we study and realise the most suitable end product: that is our speciality.
- Comparison of different measurements over time? 3D surface models + map of deviations.
- Architectural redevelopment project? Floor plans, elevations and vector sections in CAD.
- Mapping the state of decay of a vault or curved surface? Cylindrical or conical or elliptical orthophotos with very high resolution.
- Production of VFX special effects or digital simulations? 3D surface model + Depth Map.
Our goal is to provide you with ready-to-use data, optimised for your needs, saving you time and resources.

The point cloud is a complex file that is also rich in information. It is a collection of millions of points in space, not connected to each other, defined only by their 3D coordinates. The file is often large and requires appropriate tools to be visualised and used correctly. From a point cloud it is possible to derive: Sections, Measurements of individual points, Distances, Areas, Angles, Planes.
To make the job easier, we provide our Ad Hoc visualiser, based on an in-house developed graphics engine, specially designed to handle large point clouds and 3D models, even using standard performance PCs, without the need for expensive workstations.
In this way, you can exploit the full potential of the acquired data, easily and effectively.

Yes, this is possible. When surveying vegetation-covered areas - such as a rocky slope - the aim is often to analyse the underlying terrain, e.g. for geological or geotechnical studies. If care is taken during the acquisition to detect the terrain at least partially (e.g. by using camera angles and a mix of specific techniques), we can classify and separate the vegetation from the soil data.
In this way we can exclude vegetation from contour line generation,
performing correct geotechnical analyses such as automatic extraction of structural planes (dip-dir), calculating fracture parameters, deriving geomechanical and stability models, etc.
It is possible to obtain both 3D models and orthophotos with or without vegetation, depending on the specific needs of the project.
In addition, in the case of tall vegetation, it is possible to derive the slope, height and average thickness of trunks from the point clouds classified.

Yes, we have extensive experience in multi-temporal monitoring of different types of objects and infrastructures: statues, ship bulbs, rock faces, tunnel vaults, historical and modern buildings.
We compare 3D surfaces acquired at different survey epochs or against design surfaces, generating as output both aerial maps of deviation (colour maps) quantifying spatial variations, and comparison sections on specific planes to highlight point and localised deformations.
In all multi-temporal monitoring projects, we pay the utmost attention to the rigorous definition of the reference system common to all survey epochs, the control of the accuracies and precisions of each acquisition, and the validation of metric consistency between different datasets. These aspects are fundamental to guarantee the quality and reliability of comparative analyses.

Yes, we produce 3D models “ready to BIM”, i.e. optimised for integration within BIM platforms (Revit, Archicad, etc.).
Our models, derived from high-precision surveys, are designed to facilitate and transition from surveyed data to parametric modelling, quickly and efficiently.

Yes, when it is necessary to accurately depict non-planar surfaces, we can perform orthoprojections on complex reference surfaces: cylindrical, conical, elliptical, spherical or other geometric.
This technique allows high-precision orthophotos to be obtained even for geometries that cannot be developed in plan, while maintaining metric accuracy and photogrammetric quality.
Some typical application cases are: Cylindrical orthophoto for the interior of a tunnel vault or reservoir; Elliptical orthophoto for railway tunnels with a non-circular cross-section; Conical orthophoto for architectural elements such as capitals or carved columns; Hemispherical orthophoto for domes or hemispherical vaults.
The choice of the reference surface and the correct orthoprojection algorithm guarantee the geometric and photometric accuracy of the final product.

We do not deal directly with 3D printing, but have been collaborating for years on a permanent basis with several specialised laboratories, which use various additive technologies (FDM, SLA, SLS, etc.) and materials (resins, polymers, metals, stones and ceramics).
Our role is to provide 3D models optimised for printing, generating closed watertight meshes with the level of detail required by the project.
We produce files in standard formats (such as STL or OBJ) suitable for managing slicing processes and calibrating print parameters.
Over the years we have made high-precision replicas for museums and cultural institutions, including: Statues for the Egyptian Museum in Turin and Palazzo Madama in Turin, Romanesque capitals of the Collegiate Church of Sant'Orso in Aosta and Neolithic anthropomorphic stelae from the Saint-Martin-de-Corléans site in Aosta and the Petit-Chasseur site in Sion.