Arches for JU Excavations

Arches for JU Excavations uses the CIDOC CRM v7.1.3 ontology together with the CRMarchaeo, CRMgeo and CRMdig extensions. This provides a shared semantic structure for archaeological records while preserving the relationships between field observations, spatial information and digital resources.

The application includes resource models for trenches, contexts, special finds, IIIF image resources, 3D resources, coordinate systems and annotations. These models store archaeological descriptions together with spatial footprints, excavation documentation, Harris-matrix relations, digital resource links and site-specific coordinate information.

The coordinate workflows support the import of survey data from GNSS and Total Station measurements. Imported coordinates can be used to create footprints for trenches, contexts and special finds, connecting field measurements with the corresponding Arches resources instead of storing them as separate, unrelated data.

The workflow can work with both global WGS84 reference system and site-local systems. Users can select local coordinate systems stored as Arches resources, while the application transforms coordinates between the selected source and target systems. Input requirements and transformation errors are reported by the workflow, helping users identify invalid coordinate data before it is saved.

A separate map step displays the resulting coordinates before the workflow is completed. This gives users an opportunity to inspect the generated geometry spatially and confirm that the imported points correspond to the intended excavation area.

The application treats digital documentation as part of the archaeological record. Dedicated workflows support the addition and management of 3D models, IIIF image resources and RTI resources. These resources can be linked to excavation records and enriched with spatial information where it is available.

Annotations can be created for both 3D and IIIF resources. In this way, observations can be attached to a particular digital object while remaining connected to the wider resource model. Context reports bring related information together by combining map content with embedded Cesium and IIIF viewers for attached resources.

The custom Map Plugin provides a MapLibre-based workspace for exploring spatial resources. Users can search the database, display resources as separate map layers, adjust layer opacity and colours, and compare archaeological data with uploaded GeoTIFF basemaps.

Basemap workflows support the upload of high-resolution GeoTIFF files for use in the integrated map viewer. The application also provides access control for GeoTIFF basemap tile serving, so this functionality can be restricted through dedicated authentication groups.

Instead of requiring every operation to be completed through generic data-entry forms, the application exposes guided workflows through the Arches Workflow Launcher. Each workflow focuses on a specific task, such as assigning a local coordinate system, importing field geometry, adding a digital resource or preparing a basemap.

The result is a consistent path from field measurement to structured archaeological data. Coordinates, resource relationships, digital documentation and spatial visualisation remain part of the same Arches environment, while the underlying models retain their connection to established cultural-heritage standards.

The application integrates the Mare Nostrum LAB Platform Thesaurus as a SPARQL-based concept provider for controlled vocabularies. The provider is loaded during application startup, allowing the excavation environment to use shared concepts alongside its own archaeological resource models.