People sit beside a scientific instrument in the hallway of a historic building

The 2009 ARIS course used as its case study the frescos, vaults, and marble altars located in the right nave of the church of Santa Cecilia in Rome. This paleo-Christian basilica served to illustrate the various documentation techniques and tools required to record conditions as well as make and communicate conservation decisions. The work in Santa Cecilia built upon the work of the previous three ARIS courses.

During four intensive weeks, the following topics were covered: hand measurement, photography, thermal imaging, laser scanning, 3-D modeling, time-lapse and balloon photography, strobe lighting, photogrammetry, topographic survey, panoramic photography, data management, and video.

Additional tools were employed at the site of Ostia Antica including a global positioning system (GPS), which was used to quickly map archaeological areas near Santa Cecilia, and geographic information systems (GIS), which were demonstrated to rapidly assess nearby buildings and their urban context. For the length of the course, data were managed in an information system designed by course participants. Leica Geosystems generously donated equipment for use during the course.

By the end of the course, participants had a clear understanding that good conservation decisions are made when one has knowledge of past interventions and current conditions of the cultural resource and awareness of its significance and history.

Featuring seventeen participants from as many countries, the course was held in Rome from September 2 to October 2, 2009. It was the fourth in a series of courses that have trained almost sixty mid-career professionals including architects, conservators, engineers, and educators. Course participants have gone on to train others in their home countries using the material from the course.

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