Fusion and integration of heterogeneous close range remote sensing and geophysical data. the case of Grumentum

This paper deals with the integration and fusion of UAV-based imagery, including Vis-NIR multispectral and infrared thermography data, with georadar and geomagnetic prospecting, applied on Grumentum, pre-Roman and Roman city, with an important phase dated to Late Antiquity, of the ancient Lucania, in Basilicata region. The data were processed individually and then integrated with each other in order to recover as much information as possible from the different signals. Due to the qualitative and quantitative approaches to the integration and fusion of the diverse data sets and features, it was possible to detect some urban blocks (insulae) reasonably referable to the Roman age, although obviously not datable, and other features spatially linked to the late antique/early medieval church. Grumentum's experience shows considerable potential as well as limits in the use of the image fusion-based approach for the enhancement of archaeological features, from which emerges the need to continue experimenting these approaches on a greater number of case studies.