Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archeology
The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archeology (LBI ArchPro) in Vienna is a non-university research institution of the Ludwig Boltzmann Society and is dedicated to research, development and teaching in the field of large-scale, non-destructive archaeological prospecting .
History and organization
It was founded on April 2, 2010 by the Ludwig Boltzmann Society and several European partners. The institute has been managed by Wolfgang Neubauer since it was founded .
An integral and important part of the LBI ArchPro are its partner organizations. These are the Ludwig Boltzmann Society, the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics , the Administration of the Province of Lower Austria , the Norwegian Institute for Monument Research , the University of Vienna (Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science), the Technical University of Vienna (Institute for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Institute for Computer graphics and algorithms), the University of Birmingham , the Roman-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz, Vestfold fylkeskommune in Norway, Airborne Technologies, 7reasons Medien GmbH, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Institute for Ancient Cultural History, Institute for Oriental and European Archeology) and the Austrian Archaeological Institute .
There is a cooperation agreement with the Institute for Archeology and Ancient History at Lund University in Sweden.
Research tasks
The LBI ArchPro is dedicated to the development and application of novel methods for efficient, non-destructive, high-resolution archaeological investigation of large areas. For this purpose, the latest techniques of remote sensing and geophysical prospecting , computer science , surveying and archeology are combined, adapted and further developed. Using the tools developed, it should be possible to detect, document, visualize and analyze soil and cultural monuments in the area of entire archaeological landscapes.
In the framework of large-scale case studies and field tests, the methods and techniques are tested and applied in the partner countries in cooperation with the national partners. Examples are the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project , the ArchPro Carnuntum Project, the prospecting of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Birka-Hovgården in Sweden and large-scale archaeological prospecting in the province of Vestfold in Norway.
Areas of competence
The LBI ArchPro conducts research and development in the following key areas:
Remote sensing (archaeological prospecting from the air with manned and unmanned aircraft)
- Aerial photography (automatic location and rectification of aerial images)
- Airborne laser scanning (creation of digital terrestrial and batimetric terrain models; development of filter algorithms)
- Airborne hyperspectral scanning
Geophysical archaeological prospection (non-destructive investigation of the near-surface subsurface with the help of geophysical measurement methods)
- Magnetometry (development and application of high-resolution motorized multi-channel magnetometer systems)
- Ground radar prospecting (development and application of high-resolution motorized multi-channel measuring systems)
- Electromagnetic induction measurements
- Software development (production of comprehensive computer programs for efficient processing of the geophysical prospecting data recorded in very large quantities)
Archaeological interpretation (integrated interpretation of prospection data in a geographic information system )
- Creation of suitable geographic databases
- Creation of automatic and semi-automatic classification and interpretation algorithms
- Creation of the GIS-based analysis and interpretation tool ArcheoAnalyst
Virtual archeology
- Digital documentation of archaeological sites and excavations (using laser scanning and photogrammetric methods)
- Merging of prospecting data
- Integration of archaeological stratigraphy into the analysis of prospecting data
- Virtual reconstruction of archaeological sites
Mediation and teaching (scientific and popular science)
- Teaching activity in archaeological prospecting ( University of Vienna and others)
- Scientific publications
- Organization of scientific conferences
- Initiative college for archaeological prospection
- Documentary production
- Organization of, and contributions to, exhibitions
Awards
- In December 2011, the discovery of a Roman gladiator school near Carnuntum by the LBI ArchPro from the Archaeological Institute of America was selected as one of the top 10 archaeological discoveries of the year.
- In December 2014, the large-scale archaeological study of the landscape around Stonehenge by the LBI ArchPro was selected by the Archaeological Institute of America among the top 10 archaeological discoveries of the year.
- In January 2016, the head of LBI ArchPro, Wolfgang Neubauer , was named Scientist of the Year 2015 by the Austrian Club of Education and Science Journalists .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ The Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project English
- ^ Research project ArchPro Carnuntum
- ↑ Prospecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site Birka-Hovgården English
- ^ Archaeological prospection in Vestfold English
- ^ Organized conferences in the field of archaeological prospecting
- ^ Initiative College for Archaeological Prospection (University of Vienna)
- ↑ Discovery of the Gladiator School in Carnuntum Archeology - Top 10 Discoveries of 2011, English
- ↑ Under Stonehenge Archeology - Top 10 Discoveries of 2014, English
- ↑ Archaeologist Wolfgang Neubauer is "Scientist of the Year 2015" club of education and science journalists