Fortifications and documentation: the case of Fortezza Vecchia in Livorno. State of the digital survey 2017

Abstract

The “Fortezza Vecchia” (Old Fortress) in Livorno resumes many features of the fortified architecture realized in the Mediterranean in the Modern age, at the same time it has a significant stratification, with the clear sign of a continuous reuse, expansion and adaptation across time. Built from the XIV century it received main reconstructions and extension works from the XVI to the XX century. In early 2017 a complete digital survey (still ongoing at the time of this writing) has been started under the collaboration of Autorità Portuale di Livorno (Livorno Port Autority), Area3D S.l.r. and Dipartimento di Architettura, Firenze. The survey work has been planned using two 3D laser scanners with the implementation of topographical survey, terrestrial and areal (IUAV) photogrammetry. The paper proposed here will present the state of development of the data treatment and the specific methodology used to document such an important and large fortress.