Discovering and preserving the military landscape. ICT for the German bunkers of the Galla Placidia Line

The research here presented reflects on the potentials of enhancement, given by new Information and Communication technologies, in the field of Culture Heritage. It describes an interpretation and communication project for a military landscape built during World War II by the German troops. Known as Galla Placidia Line, it was a network of heterogeneous fortifications like bunkers, defensive emplacements and dragon’s teeth erected between Pesaro and Ravenna along the coasts of Emilia Romagna. The project bases its roots on the development of a rigorous census, thought as an implementation of the online open-source catalogue established by the entrusted Institutions. The direct and indirect surveys required in order to describe these structures according to a specific set of characteristics will increase their knowledge and relative awareness and it will constitute the starting point for developing new narrative contents. The communication and interpretation of these data will go through the use of locating intelligences – an integrated GPS and Beacon system – involved into a new application. A tool witch is meant to help and empower local communities and institutions not only in making this heritage known but also in its conservation policies.