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This present work focuses on the mapping of marbles, decorative patterns and area of the mosaics of the St. Nicola's Basilica in Bari (Italy) by their photogrammetric survey. The extraordinary importance of these mosaics is due to the stylistic uniqueness and the undisputed workmanship and to the employed materials for tesserae. These mosaics include the white and polychrome marbles, used in the Roman age and reused in medieval artistic production, and imitation stones used as substitutes during the past restorations. The digital survey was realised by the photogrammetric reconstruction of mosaics collecting a photo dataset, after the mosaics redrawing by an image processing software and finally implemented it with lithological identification marbles. It allowed to obtain a punctual mapping of materials, through which to identify original areas and restoration areas, decorative patterns, recurring geometries. The research carried out, supported by the photogrammetric reconstruction as established method for high resolution digital reproduction and mapping, not only ensures the conservation and improvement of the enjoyment of the mosaic floors of the St. Nicola's Basilica, but allows to conduct studies on materials, decorative patterns and restoration areas directly on the digitized product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of the photogrammetric method to obtain 3D model of artworks for their characterisation and conservation. The high-resolution reproduction of a piece of art allows both the identification of constituent materials, decorative elements and detailed features and its digitalisation and enjoyment and then enhancement. In this study the approach was applied to the polychrome marble altars in the crypt of the St. Sabino's cathedral and in the St. Giacomo's church, both in Bari (Italy), significant evidences of virtuosity of Baroque sculptors and of use and reuse of precious Roman marbles combined with more recent and local stones. For this purpose, firstly, a three-dimensional model and high definition survey were performed by collection of numerous photographs and their processing using photogrammetric method and digital survey software; in addition, identification of Roman marbles and other decorative stones was carried out in terms of lithological classification, provenance locality, the historical period of employ. Results, obtained through an inexpensive, fast and complete survey, allowed to produce a high definition representation of the altars for a complete mapping of used material and decorative features and to guarantee their conservation, sharing and enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]