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1).A:system oriented to image acquisition from transparent or o 
paque supports. The main components are: 
- H.P.2113 Computer with 640 Kb core memory and disk,tape and 
printer devices 
- MFA's scanners: this is a set of computer controlled micropho 
tometers based on different optoelectronic devices (TV camera 
-TV=3 photomultiplier ~-PS~- and photodiode “array -LS}). 
- Image display: it is a microprocessor based system for the dis 
play.of.512x512.pixel gray-level.or color images: 
2) A system oriented to interactive data processing. The main 
components are: 
- H.P.2117 Computer with 1Mb core memory and disk, tape and prin 
ter devices. : 
- Graphic terminal: it is a high resolution storage display with 
1024x780 points. 
3) A system oriented to automatic data preprocessing. The main 
components are: 
- GOULD SEL Concept 32/27 Computer with 2M core memory, and disk, 
tape and printer devices. 
- Display Computer: it is a microprocessor based system under the 
control of CP/M Operating System for the manipulation and dis- 
play of 1024x1024 pixel images. 
- Vector Processor MAP 300: it is a computer dedicated to fast 
parallel arithmetic operations. 
The first and the second system above mentioned can inter-commu 
nicate by means of a common mass storage area; a serial link con 
nects the H.P.2117 Computer to the SEL 32/27. Computer. 
A single high-level language has been implemented on all the sys 
tems in order to create a predefined image data processing envi- 
ronment. 
5. The Scanning Device 
In our case we used the high precision MFA/250/LS Microphotome- 
ter, which can measure the optical density transparency of large 
format photograms. (3) 
A sketch of the MFA/250/LS is shown in fig.5. Its main components 
are: 
- an electronic device R, made by a 2048 diodes array Reticon 
2048 H and relative electronics; 
- a focusing objective O; 
- à luminous source S, fixed with respect to the sensor R; 
- à film holder H; 
à step-motor assembly M, which supports the plate holder. 
The luminous source is parallel to the optoelectronic sensor, 
and both are aligned along the Y direction of the figure; the