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