When Geophysics Meets Geomatics and Archeology: Revealing the Connection Between Surface and Buried Structures at Iuvanum Archeological Site

Highlights A multidisciplinary workflow is presented to investigate the Iuvanum archeological area by merging near-surface observations and subsurface geophysical data within a single, georeferenced 3D environment. UAV photogrammetry products (DSM/orthomosaic) provide an accurate spatial framework for positioning GPR profiles acquired on uneven terrain and for topography-corrected 3D visualization. Volumes of interest (VOIs) extracted from the assembled GPR dataset are compared with a virtual architectural model to refine interpretation and support archeological decision-making. What are the main findings? Geophysical GPR results are integrated with geomatics (UAV photogrammetry/DEM/orthophoto) and archeological-architectural analysis to connect visible remains with buried structures at the Iuvanum site. A georeferenced 3D workflow assembles topography-corrected, non-grid GPR profiles and extracts volumes of interest (VOIs) that delineate buried walls, pavement levels, and complex features (e.g., a stair). What are the implications of the main findings? The shared 3D visualization environment improves interpretability and confidence in non-invasive prospection, providing clear, prioritized targets to support excavation planning. The proposed workflow is reproducible on complex terrain and is readily extensible to additional geophysical datasets within the same integrated 3D framework.Highlights A multidisciplinary workflow is presented to investigate the Iuvanum archeological area by merging near-surface observations and subsurface geophysical data within a single, georeferenced 3D environment. UAV photogrammetry products (DSM/orthomosaic) provide an accurate spatial framework for positioning GPR profiles acquired on uneven terrain and for topography-corrected 3D visualization. Volumes of interest (VOIs) extracted from the assembled GPR dataset are compared with a virtual architectural model to refine interpretation and support archeological decision-making. What are the main findings? Geophysical GPR results are integrated with geomatics (UAV photogrammetry/DEM/orthophoto) and archeological-architectural analysis to connect visible remains with buried structures at the Iuvanum site. A georeferenced 3D workflow assembles topography-corrected, non-grid GPR profiles and extracts volumes of interest (VOIs) that delineate buried walls, pavement levels, and complex features (e.g., a stair). What are the implications of the main findings? The shared 3D visualization environment improves interpretability and confidence in non-invasive prospection, providing clear, prioritized targets to support excavation planning. The proposed workflow is reproducible on complex terrain and is readily extensible to additional geophysical datasets within the same integrated 3D framework.Highlights A multidisciplinary workflow is presented to investigate the Iuvanum archeological area by merging near-surface observations and subsurface geophysical data within a single, georeferenced 3D environment. UAV photogrammetry products (DSM/orthomosaic) provide an accurate spatial framework for positioning GPR profiles acquired on uneven terrain and for topography-corrected 3D visualization. Volumes of interest (VOIs) extracted from the assembled GPR dataset are compared with a virtual architectural model to refine interpretation and support archeological decision-making.What are the main findings? Geophysical GPR results are integrated with geomatics (UAV photogrammetry/DEM/orthophoto) and archeological-architectural analysis to connect visible remains with buried structures at the Iuvanum site. A georeferenced 3D workflow assembles topography-corrected, non-grid GPR profiles and extracts volumes of interest (VOIs) that delineate buried walls, pavement levels, and complex features (e.g., a stair). What are the implications of the main findings? The shared 3D visualization environment improves interpretability and confidence in non-invasive prospection, providing clear, prioritized targets to support excavation planning. The proposed workflow is reproducible on complex terrain and is readily extensible to additional geophysical datasets within the same integrated 3D framework.Abstract This study presents a multidisciplinary investigation of the archeological site of Iuvanum (Abruzzo, central Italy), integrating geophysics, geomatics, architectural analysis and archeology with the purpose of exploring the relationship between surface remains and buried structures of archeological value. This research focuses on the area covering part of the forum and part of the basilica, where ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted to detect subsurface anomalies potentially associated with unexcavated architectural features. GPR line scans were acquired under complex topographic conditions, processed, and assembled into a three-dimensional representation, from which volumes of interest (VOIs) were extracted. These geophysical results were integrated into a comprehensive three-dimensional framework together with high-resolution UAV photogrammetry, digital elevation models, orthophotos and a virtual architectural model (VAM) of the site. The integrated visualization environment greatly facilitates the recognition of spatial relations between the detected anomalies and the hypothesized architectural elements. The observed GPR anomalies confirmed wall remains that were initially speculated or located along their geometrical continuation. Pavement levels, as well as some structures asymmetrical with respect to the purely geometric reconstruction, were also identified. This study demonstrates how integrating GPR with geomatic and archeological approaches improves the reliability and interpretative depth of non-invasive archeological prospecting. The proposed workflow provides a reproducible methodological framework propedeutical to excavation planning and suitable for the integration of information from multi-data sensors.