SPQR-ND for iPhone

Name: SPQR-ND for iPhone
Author: University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame

DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:Researchers & AcademicsGeneral Public & Enthusiasts

Free

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App Summary

SPQR-ND for iPhone is an educational tool for students, scholars, and enthusiasts that uses mobile mapping to provide in-field access to digitized rare architectural publications of monuments in the Roman Forum. The app is based on a mobile pedagogical model that integrates geolocated monument entries with historic plans, sections, and elevations, allowing users to compare different architectural interpretations within their physical context. The associated research concludes that this approach provides a unique way to analyze the developmental and representational history of Rome's ancient monuments.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed at the University of Notre Dame, SPQR-ND integrates digitized, rare architectural publications with a geo-locational interface for the Roman Forum. The system facilitates the study of monuments by overlaying historical plates, plans, and cartographic data onto a modern map. The interface allows for direct comparison between various historical representations (e.g., from Palladio, Piranesi) and contemporary photographs. Sessions involve navigating the map or browsing a monument list to access zoomable plates and descriptive information.

Evidence & Research Context

The associated research frames the application as a mobile pedagogical model designed for studying historical structures in their physical context.
The system's design enables comparative analysis of the developmental and representational history of ancient Roman monuments.
The application leverages virtually deconstructed rare book collections to provide academic and public access to individual, high-resolution plates.
The project's development protocol incorporates student participation in content preparation, from the digital scanning of sources to the geolocation of architectural features.

Intended Use & Scope

The application is intended as an educational and scholarly reference tool for students, academic researchers, and enthusiasts of architectural history. Its primary utility is for in-field study and the comparative visualization of historical representations. The system is not a comprehensive archaeological database; consultation of primary sources remains necessary for definitive scholarly analysis.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

SPQR-ND: Interpreting the Roman Forum through early architectural publications

Robichaud et al. (2014) · ARLIS/NA Midstates Newsletter

Describes the research-driven development of this app

This report introduces SPQR-ND, an iPad application developed through a collaboration between the University of Notre Dame's Architecture Library, School of Architecture, and Center for Digital Scholarship. Motivated by students' need to access rare architectural publications while studying abroad in Rome, the project serves as a mobile pedagogical model for studying historic structures in the field. The application provides a unique visualization of the Roman Forum by integrating digitized rare book collections—including works by Palladio, Piranesi, and Desgodets—with modern mobile mapping. Key features of the app include geolocated monument entries that allow users to study plans, sections, and elevations in their physical context. Users can interactively compare historic interpretations by fading between contemporary photographs and 16th- to 19th-century drawings, or by layering various cartographic representations from 1748 to 2013 satellite views. By virtually "breaking apart" complex volumes into browsable, zoomable plates, SPQR-ND enables students, scholars, and the public to analyze the developmental and representational history of Rome's ancient monuments. The project emphasizes student participation in all phases—from scanning to geolocation—and outlines future expansion plans, including 3D visualization and multi-language support.