HYPERSPECTRAL DISCRIMINATION OF ROOFING MATERIALS IN RELATION TO HISTORY

This paper presents the results of a research activity aimed at studying urban areas by means of remotely sensed hyperspectral data acquired over the city of Rome. The classification of remotely sensed images allowed us to identify different spectral classes referred to materials used for building roofs and to deduce considerations on how the use of building techniques and materials has evolved in space and time, or the architectural composition of building volume. In particular, the classification shows how roof coverings reflect a well defined epoch and how the building style, consolidated over the centuries, granted the privilege to use local materials until the 19th century. From the 19th century onwards, there is a period when unau-thorized buildings and urbanization were rampant, with an indiscriminate and chaotic use of materials like bituminous surfaces, corrugated iron roofing sheets and so on.