39 
opportunity to 
t the relations 
tecture and to 
those that are 
îe satisfactory 
n topographic 
ones deriving 
:e). 
the difference 
ited in editing 
center of each span. 
subject of the study does not allow an interpretative 
approach based upon rigid geometrical schemes, but 
imposes the setting up of the surveying procedures and 
their graphic elaboration in a wider research process, that 
is still going on, and of which the first results are being 
exhibited herein. 
Having known the evolving character of the knowledge 
makes the numeric survay an extremely diversified 
instrument for editing of the dynamic interpretative models 
that are using an hermeneutical work in progress. It results 
the inability and uselessness of an objective and complete 
surveying, while it is necessary an act of conscientious 
and complex evaluation, that is not reduced to a definition 
of the measurements, but that is being finalized having 
total knowledge of the object to be explored, deciding on 
the information that are to be obtained by means of 
observation. 
A particular subject of survey, even though being an 
expression of a Kunstwollen directed to a search of self 
rationality in the geometries of celestial Jerusalem, cannot 
be read and studied applying a stereotypes that locate 
symmetries, orders, hierarchies, classifications, 
repetitions and series. 
New possibilities during the course of the survey and new 
questions have been brought up to light using the ever 
increasing scientific and technological innovations in the 
field of surveying, imaging and database management. 
Interdisciplinary character of the acknowledgement process 
has, therefore, oriented the data acquisition procedures 
and, in order to comply with the requirements of the Ministry, 
the study has been focused on the longitudinal section, 
along the nave and on the transversal section, along the 
transept. 
2. TOPOGRAPHIC NETWORK 
The measurement project has been finalized in the 
required forms, exploiting the internal space of the church 
and prearranging eventual consecutive modifications. The 
geometry of the basilical structure is one of a Latin cross, 
with three naves. A need to measure a position of a vault 
system has suggested a use of topographical instruments 
that could be able to determine a distance between a vertex 
of the measuring station and a collimation point without a 
help of a reflecting prism, exploiting natural reflecting 
features of the materials. 
In the process of measurement, the elements deriving 
from have enabled a location of the points and the lines in 
the space. The approximation grade is linked with 
significance and a quality of the selected points. 
Being cleared, in that way, of the requirements to signal 
the points to be located, it became possible to concentrate 
on the selection of the same. This preliminary 
consideration on the instruments and the objectives of the 
study has affected the design of the traverse shape of 
which the topological structure has been evidently 
completed upon reaching the planned results, (fig.2) 
Having set an alignment passing through the middle of 
the central nave spans, parallel to the longitudinal section, 
a particular traverse has been made with 14 vertices of the 
measuring station out of which 9 have been positioned in 
the center of each single span of the central nave, 3 in the 
center of the transept span and 2 externally (one in front of 
the facade - in order to proceed with measurement of the 
main portal - and one in the cloister for eventual subsequent 
linkage into an external traverse chain). 
In order to make reliable the measurements relating to the 
traverse, collimations have been made from each vertex to 
all other points within a visible range; even though that 
procedure is not offering an extremely precise the network 
structure of the design, permits a control of the 
measurements achieved. Calculation has been made 
using commercial software. 
3. SURVEY OF DETAILS 
Then the problem of measuring is moved to the selection 
of criteria for the survey of details. Very often, a design 
attenuates or accentuates the geometry leading to 
formulation of the erroneous interpretations: non-respected 
alignments, forced or non-measured symmetries. 
The curve of the circular arch could be obtained by 
dismantling the form in the measurement stage by 
determining three points, but the procedure brings up the 
risks as it would not demonstrate possible deformations 
impressed into the theoretical curve. 
The advantage, obtained until recently only by 
photogrammetrical methods (where it is possible to apply 
such methods), consisted, in fact, in a possibility to calculate 
equation of the curve using a number of points that could