Listed monuments

from the historical centre of Bucarest – a GIS approach

Dr. Dana Mihai

Cristina Craaciun

The pilot project “The historical centre of Bucharest” takes into consideration the applicability of the GIS technology for data representation, including the cartographic and parametric data, but also for a better monitoring of the information from the national Historical Monuments List.

The digital information is stored into a relational database that contains data referring to each listed monument and archaeological site. This RDBS is connected to a digital map (scale 1:2000) that contains data organized on different layers: footprint of the buildings, streets, water courses, parings, sidewalks etc). Therefore, the GIS application developed by the National Institute for Historical Monuments allows the visualization and the study of the spatial distribution of the archaeological sites (excavated between 1950 and 2005) and of the listed historical monuments. For a most realistic view a satellite photo (Ikonos, 1m/pixel) was used.

The layers containing cultural resources data are figured in both point and polygon type shape file.

While the polygon shape files contain the cartographic representation of the footprint of the buildings, the point shape files are used mainly as a gateway to the attributes. Visual information is also offered by the use of a standard legend that can offer instant access to the information regarding the importance and/or the category of a listed monument (according to the pre-established criteria of the National Monuments List). Accessing dedicated hotlinks to photographs, plans, archive photos and documents, the user can manage different types of data related to a monument.

By creating this application the National institute for Historical Monuments is making a fist step to the creation and implementation of a new informative system. The experience and the expertise will be applied to the national inventory, so necessary today.

Building a national network regarding the cultural heritage seems to be o stringent necessity and, in the same time, a future desire for us.