Investigarting norman choirs with ambulatories in southern Italy: Acerenza, Venosa and Aversa. Integrated digital survey and comparative analysis

This paper presents an integrated digital survey methodology for the comparative investigation of the Norman ambulatorial choirs of the cathedrals of Acerenza, Aversa, and the abbey church of Santissima Trinità in Venosa. Developed within Spoke 8, LT1, the research addresses one of the rarest architectural typologies in southern Italy, adopting a unified workflow that combines terrestrial laser scanning, digital photogrammetry, topographic control, and GNSS georeferencing. The application of identical acquisition and processing protocols produced homogeneous, high-resolution, georeferenced 3D datasets, enabling reliable geometric and morphological comparisons across the three monuments. The integrated models support the generation of accurate 2D documentation and provide an analytical framework for investigating spatial organization, construction phases, and architectural transformations. Comparative analysis highlights both the shared transalpine origins of the ambulatorial choir and its local reinterpretation within the Norman Kingdom of southern Italy, revealing recurring geometric principles alongside context-specific adaptations. The study demonstrates how standardized digital survey methodologies can move beyond documentation to support historical interpretation, offering a replicable approach for the comparative analysis, conservation, and digital management of complex medieval architectural heritage.