Data collection and management for stratigraphic analysis of upstanding structures

Stratigraphic analysis, used in principle for study of archaeological excavation, has been adapted and applied to upstanding structures with the same aim to reconstruct a building's history. Stratigraphy, as well as data excavation management, has found a useful and versatile tool in geographic information systems (GISs). Such systems allow support of this kind of analysis, which is mainly related to the reconstruction of the chronological sequence, statistical analysis, and their representation. This paper examines the process that leads to the production of information and storage in a GIS, applicable for the management of the stratigraphy of an upstanding structure. This process involves data acquisition, processing, 3D modelling, 2D representation, graphical entities, and their topological relationships, determinations, and representations. We also touch on the relationship between 3D GIS and 2D GIS; even if complex 3D archives are currently achievable, from another point of view it can be also useful for carrying out a 2D workflow aiming at achieving sharable guidelines that are valuable for specialists in Cultural Heritage conservation.