A Single Public Lidar Data Model for Cross-Border Archaeology and Its Research Potential: A Case Study into Roman Land Division and Agricultural Use in Istria, Croatia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Publicly available airborne laser scanning (ALS) data offers considerable potential for archaeological research, yet remains extending across modern borders are often divided among national and regional datasets. This paper presents a cross-border approach to ALS data from Croatia, Slovenia and the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The datasets were harmonised, rasterised at a resolution of 0.5 m and integrated into a single Web Map Service designed for archaeological interpretation. This integrated dataset has significant research potential, as demonstrated by a case study of Roman land division across the Gulf of Trieste and the Istrian Peninsula, which covers an area of approx. 4000 km2. At a macro level, the analysis identifies four distinct land divisions, suggesting their boundaries and their landscape context. Examining these systems within a continuous geographical framework allows for a fresh perspective on Roman territorial organisation. At a finer scale, the study focuses on patterns of subdivision within individual centuriae. ALS data enable a more detailed analysis of Roman land use, offering a new interpretation of these subdivisions. Thus, the study demonstrates how harmonised, cross-border ALS data can connect broader questions of Roman territorial organisation with a detailed analysis of the physical remains.
Source: Land
DOI: 10.3390/land15112120
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W7225420409