ALCEO project will develop new Artificial Intelligence methods for processing different types of EO data with the aim of semi-automatically identifying, in archaeological areas, 'anomalies' that can be recognised as looting pits.
The project will proceed by:
- Developing a pipeline for automatic dumping of EO datasets through open platforms.
- Designing an 'anomaly'-detection algorithm on time series images, to detect looted sites.
- Designing an experimental set-up for comparing, on a benchmark dataset, the proposed classification algorithm to the state-of-the-art ones.
- Archaeological ground-truthing in areas notoriously subject to looting activities, to verify automated identifications and test the accuracy of the predictions.
- Producing a digital map of the identified looted sites to be provided to relevant authorities (Interpol, Carabinieri TPC).
END-USERS
Law Enforcement Agencies represent ALCEO's PRINCIPAL END-USERS.
The project has been endorsed by:
- INTERPOL - International Criminal Police Organization (Works of Art Unit)
- MIC - Italian Ministry of Culture - Coordinator of actions & investigations of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Carabinieri TPC)
NEEDS
A novel system able to:
- provide a faster and reliable way to detect both past and ongoing illicit digging activities;
- monitor efficiently areas secluded or difficult to patrol (i.e., deserts, farmlands, etc.);
- understand and follow the evolution of looters' behaviour by analysing the patterning of pits;
- facilitate the matching of recovered and seized archaeological items with their provenance;
