This study presents a practical methodology for integrating the multiscale spatial information of archaeological sites by combining Geographic Information Systems (GISs) with Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM). The methodology categorises and integrates data based on its type and geometric scale, leveraging advanced 3D surveying techniques alongside semantic and parametric modelling tools. A multiscale system is proposed to manage heterogeneous geospatial data efficiently, enabling the development of enriched geometric models with detailed semantic and parametric attributes. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through a case study of the Archaeological Area of Ancient “Abellinum”, showcasing seamless integration between HGISs and HBIM across multiple levels of detail. This work highlights the potential for enhanced management and the interpretation of archaeological heritage using innovative digital methodologies, highlighting the importance of representation in documenting historical transformations.

This study presents an integrated geophysical–geomatic approach for the investigation of archaeological sites, combining low-frequency Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) and close-range photogrammetry at the Archaeological Park of Abellinum (southern Italy). Unlike conventional applications using high-frequency antennas, the low-frequency GPR system employed in this study enabled deep subsurface imaging, allowing reconstruction of buried stratigraphic and architectural features to depths of several metres. This enhanced penetration capacity facilitated a more comprehensive understanding of the investigated environments, by complementing rather than replacing high-frequency surveys and expanding the interpretable volume in complex urban and peri-urban contexts. GPR reflection data were integrated with high-resolution photogrammetric surface models, enabling direct comparison between visible structures and subsurface geometries. The combined dataset provided precise correlations between surface features and subsurface anomalies, demonstrating the potential of this integrated methodology for detailed archaeological interpretation. Overall, this approach offers a scalable, non-invasive framework applicable to other complex archaeological landscapes, supporting both research objectives and long-term heritage management. By systematically combining low-frequency GPR with high-resolution photogrammetry, the study introduces a methodological contribution that extends interpretative depth well beyond the limits of conventional surveys.

The viae romanae (Roman roads) were constructed according to precise designs and exceptional engineering techniques, ensuring their strength and durability. They represent an immeasurably important factor in human history. Their impact has been universal, facilitating the movement of people, goods, ideas, beliefs and religions over the centuries. The Via Appia Regina Viarum, built between the end of 4th and 1st centuries BCE, connected Rome to Brundisium, spanning the region of Latium and Apulia. The road initially crossed the coastal plains of the Tyrrhenian Sea (in Latium) before cutting through the reliefs and river valleys of the southern Apennines (in Campania) and finally crossing the regio Apulia et Calabria via Tarentum, to the harbor of Brundisium, along the Adriatic coast. In 2024, the Italian Ministry of Culture proposed the ‘Via Appia Regina Viarum’ for inscription on the Unesco World Heritage List, recognizing its unique and exceptional testimony to Roman civilization. Later that same year, the nomination was accepted, and today, the Via Appia is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. A significant contribution to this nomination came from the multidisciplinary studies and research conducted along the Via Appia between the ancient cities of Beneventum and Aeclanum in the Campanian Apennine, including: (1) geoarcheological investigation aimed at identifying the ancient path of the road, which was not well documented in the area between Beneventum and Aeclanum; (2) studies focused on cultural and geological heritage along the road and its surrounding landscapes, enhancing the value of the nomination; and (3) the organization of social and cultural events designed to disseminate scientific findings and raise awareness among scientists, students, local and national administrators, local food and wine producers, and the general public. This paper highlights the pivotal role of geoscience at all stages of the project: from preliminary field surveys and mapping of landforms and lithofacies, to targeted field and geophysical surveys, to archaeological excavation and geoarchaeological consideration, and to the dissemination of new data through cultural events.

Archaeological sites present critical issues related to fragmented documentation systems, the difficulty of integrating stratigraphic analyses with three-dimensional survey data, and the lack of digital tools capable of connecting scientific documentation, conservation needs, and public dissemination. This study proposes an integrated digital workflow for the archaeological park of Aeclanum, in which reality-based multi-scale survey data are transformed into an HBIM model structured through stratigraphic interpretation, material analysis, and semantically organised information. The resulting three-dimensional dataset supports the subsequent Scan-to-BIM process, ensuring consistency between the digital representation and the existing remains. Within this framework, the HBIM model is conceived not only as a geometric representation of the current state, but also as an information environment incorporating data on construction techniques, materials, and decay conditions, thus providing a basis for conservation-oriented assessment and future intervention priorities. At the same time, the model supports digital reconstruction hypotheses consistent with archaeological evidence, later developed within an immersive environment that allows visitors to compare the present condition of the site with its reconstructed historical configuration. The workflow highlights the potential of HBIM as an interface between survey, knowledge organisation, conservation support, and digital enhancement.