Spatial Data Management of Temporal Map Series for Cultural and Environmental Heritage

Abstract

This research focuses on the exploitation of real-time navigation of territory over time. This allows one to extract and compare multi-scale maps in order to verify spatial data management potentials of temporal map series. This paper discusses contributions to the knowledge, conservation, valorisation, awareness rising, and divulgence of cultural and environmental heritage at both regional and urban levels. The main aim is to promote the progressive involvement of historic maps within the planning processes, from the analysis to the governmental plan of addressing the territory, through sustainability projects and interventions. In addition, the systematic collection of temporal map series comparisons should contribute to a better knowledge of complex environmental sites of inland water basins and of the landscape in general, as well as of historic sites. In the former case, they could support the development of hydro-morphologic models and hydro-geologic risk analysis. In the latter, they could be integrated into conservation, restoration, and redevelopment projects. To fulfil these aims and to support a progressive adoption by different actors at a sustainable cost, an open-source geo-portal was developed following the geospatial community standards defined by Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and compliant with concepts of user-defined Web services. This is hosted by the Web platform available at www.atlantestoricolombardia.it