Over the past few years, the research undertaken has been focused on configuring a system capable of merging complex and heterogeneous data produced by using different acquisition methods specific to each particular phase of the fact-finding approach to the building within a custom-designed ICT environment.
The product carried out consists of a software package called ARKIS (Architecture Recovery Knowledge Information System) developed in AVENUE and based on the ArcView engine (ESRI). Its innovative aspect resides in the transfer of functions specific to the Geographical Information System - GIS - to the architectonic scale of individual buildings, which is interpreted in the canonical forms of its graphical representation (plan views, elevations and sections), as a geographic area included inside a map.
ARKIS represents a modular tool consisting of several sub-systems each of which ensures different levels of knowledge through different degrees of detail, aimed at guaranteeing the organization, representation and utilization of the knowledge itself.
The basic structure underlying the entire methodological approach is represented by the extension of the georelational model applied to normal procedures typical of CAD and the more commonly used relational data bases. Consequently each data base of CAD objects and graphical entities acquires the topological/vectorial features of the GIS. So it is possible to interrelate the descriptive data with the graphic data, using relational spatial positioning functions for the geometric characterization of the information, while respecting the reciprocal topological relationships among the various parts of the building.
The functions developed allow to realize consultation and analysis paths in simple and interactive way. All the alphanumeric information are in a relational external database, projected in a punctual way and connected to ARKIS through an ODBC channel (Object Date Base Connectivity).
To testing the System developed, some experiments were conducted using several study cases.
A segment of the research is now focused on the ARKIS-NET Project, an evolution of ARKIS. It provides the foundation for disseminating high-end heterogeneous data - vectorial (shapefiles) and raster (image) types, as well as alphanumeric (database tables) - organised and represented in GIS form, and mapping services via Internet. This project enables users to integrate local data sources with Internet data sources for display, query, and analysis in an easy-to-use Web browser.
ARKIS-NET is based on the ArcIMS software package (ESRI), an Internet Map Server new generation aimed at the exploitation and distribution of GIS environments.
There is a Client module and a Server module: the Spatial Server interacts with the WEB Server through the Application Server and its Connectors and sends the response to its Clients. The Spatial Server technology used by this application is part of a multitasking architecture.
The access to the ARKIS-NET project happens through the pages of the site www.arkis.it: there is a special section where you can enter the online consultation.
The ARKIS-NET contents are the same as ARKIS, the information "generating" engine.
Experiments are currently under way within the framework of a contract between ITABC and the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta, Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Assets, for the study of the Roman Theatre at Aosta.
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