SPQR-ND for iPhone 1.0

SPQR-ND for iPhone was initially developed to provide access to plates from rare and antique archaeological publications documenting monuments in the historic city center of Rome, specifically aimed at Notre Dame students studying abroad. Over time, the project expanded to integrate traditional methods of documentation and representation with modern mapping and mobile technology, offering a distinctive approach to studying the development of Rome. A version optimized for the iPad, designated SPQR-ND, is also available.

The application enables students, researchers, and enthusiasts to examine the monuments within the Roman Forum via early architectural publications accessible directly on their iPhone. These scarce and early documents have been fully digitized and meticulously segmented, allowing users to compare different interpretations and representations of the Forum's monuments side-by-side. The monuments are geo-located on an integrated map, providing insight into their precise geographical context within the Forum.

Key features include:

• Interactive map of the Roman Forum
• Digitized historic print reproductions and photographs of the monuments
• Comprehensive list of the Forum's monuments
• Detailed descriptive information on each monument
• Multiple historic representations available for each site
• Zoomable, high-resolution views of public plates
• Layered historical maps for contextual understanding
• Bibliographic references for further research

Future updates are planned to incorporate additional monuments, support multiple languages, and introduce a 3D viewer that will facilitate virtual examination of high-resolution scanned models reconstructed into detailed digital replicas.

SPQR-ND was developed by a team from the University of Notre Dame, composed of specialists from Hesburgh Libraries’ Architecture Library, the School of Architecture’s Information Technology Team, and the Center for Digital Scholarship. The content within the app has been curated by students from the School of Architecture, emphasizing academic collaboration and innovative digital scholarship.