Geothematic map of the Lavini di Marco tracksite (Lower Jurassic, NE Italy, Southern Alps)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3301/GFT.2025.01 - Pages: 1-20

¹Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
²MUSE - Museo delle Scienze di Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy.
³Polo Museale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, I - 00185 Roma, Italy.
Corresponding author e-mail address: marco.romano@uniroma1.it

A new ichnological study was carried out on the dinosaur tracks from the Lavini di Marco ichnosite (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, NE Italy), on the framework of a joint project between the Sapienza University of Rome and the MUSE - Sciences Museum of Trento, with the cooperation of the Geological Survey and the Fire Department of the Autonomous Province of Trento. The project consisted of a new analysis, made possible through modern digital technologies, of the Lower Jurassic tracks attributed to theropod and sauropod dinosaurs. Additionally, it included the realization of a geothematic map of the entire site, representing the objective of this contribution. Two different approaches were used during the ichnological mapping: i) traditional methods and ii) aerial- and close-range photogrammetry. Aerial photogrammetry was performed using two distinct drones, obtaining orthophotos and orthoplanes of the tracks-bearing horizons, to produce a detailed geothematic map. Close-range photogrammetry led to the production of more than seventy 3D color-coded models of the best-preserved dinosaur footprints. The map was produced in digital vector format with different levels of knowledge. The final geothematic map represents a complete multilayer documentation that will be useful for future work of conservation, dissemination, and valorization of the tracksite.

Hettangian, dinosaur footprints, aerial photogrammetry, drones, geothematic map, Italy.