This document discusses the ITACA project, which aims to improve capabilities for locating and monitoring underwater archaeological sites using innovative techniques. It develops a management system with two services - a Location & Monitoring service that uses algorithms to detect shapes in satellite imagery and identify potential sites, and a Management & Operation service that allows users to organize data and visualize geospatial information about known sites. The project also creates a Risk Map tool to produce maps assessing archaeological occurrence risk and vulnerability at different locations. The system combines satellite imagery with image processing and a web platform to remotely sense, identify and manage underwater cultural heritage in a cost-effective way.

1. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
Management & Monitoring of
Underwater Archaeological Sites: An
Innovative Approach
Dimitrios Ioannidis
ioannidis@planetek.gr
ITACA Final Conference: Satellite Remote Sensing Technology in
Underwater Archaeology
Athens, Greece / 24 June 2016 1
The research leading to these results has received funding from
the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme
([FP7/2007‐2013]) under grant agreement n° 606805

2. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
Defining the Problem
ITACA Solution
Management & Operation Service
Location & Monitoring Service
Risk Map Tool
Conclusions
Athens, Greece / 24 June 2016 2
Agenda

3. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
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Defining the Problem
Existence of a large number of underwater archaeological
sites, both known and unknown.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_migrant_vessel_incidents_on_the_Mediterranean_Sea#/media/File:Relief_Map_of_Mediterranean_Sea.png

4. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
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Defining the Problem
Documentation and Preservation are mandatory.
http://www.earthporm.com/wp‐content/uploads/2014/05/Thonis‐Heracleion‐Egypt.jpg

5. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
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ITACA Solution
Objectives
•Improve the capabilities to locate
and monitor underwater
archaeological sites
•Develop and deploy a management
system

6. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
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ITACA Solution
ITACA’s combination of
innovative techniques
Multispectral remote
sensing
SAR remote sensing
Image understanding
algorithms
Web platform

7. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
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ITACA Solution

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ITACA Solution
ITACA Services
Location & Monitoring Service
• Provides users with tools to search for various
underwater cultural assets
Management & Operation Service
• Offers tools to manage geo‐information related to
underwater archaeological sites

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Management & Operation
Service
Enables the management, exploitation and sharing of
geospatial information regarding archaeological sites
Sites
Organizes all the digital
material available per site
WebGIS
The application responsible
for visualization of
geospatial data

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M & O Service
Step 1: Definition of Site

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M & O Service
Step 2: Visualization of geo‐data

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Location & Monitoring Service
Execution of the shape detection algorithms, applied
to relative bathymetry that was derived from SAR and
multispectral imagery.
• Users can launch their own process by
choosing the base image on which the
processor will search for a specific shape.
Location
• Users can place an order request by
defining the geographic area, the time
period and the type of product
Order

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L & M Service
Step 3: Order Bathymetry Data

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L & M Service
Step 4: Detect Shapes

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Risk Map Tool
Output data
2 image maps: Archaeological Occurrence Risk
Map, Risk Map for Vulnerability and Danger
Text file with all parameters used as well as
their weights
Input data
> 20 parameters Weight determination for each parameter
Development of Risk Map Tool
Geoprocessing software
Python Programming
Language
ArcPy Module

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Risk Map Tool

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Conclusions
Combines different scientific and technological
fields: Innovative Approach.
Cost effective due to large availability of
satellite image data.
Web‐platform can play the role of a universal
reference point for underwater archaeological
research.
Issues with availability of image data with
favorable conditions.
Traditional archaeological methods (coring,
excavation) will never be replaced.
Current Status: Final phase and extensively
tested.

18. ITACA:InnovationTechnologiesandApplicationsforCoastalArchaeologicalsites
Thank you
18
ITACA project is coordinated by Planetek Hellas E.P.E. (GR) and includes the following
institutes and companies: Kell Srl (IT), NAIS Srl (IT), DHI GRAS (DK), I.EN.A.E (GR), FFCUL (PT),
ANESTI Ltd (UK), Regione Sicilia (IT), ALMA sas (IT), CODEVINTEC Srl (IT), SME4SPACE (BE)
Athens, Greece / 24 June 2016