PHOENIX-UASL

➤ Last update

May 2026.

In May 2026 the PHOENIX-UASL project consolidated its transition toward an advanced phase of dissemination, international collaboration, and integrated interpretation of UAV–LiDAR data, while simultaneously expanding its research network across Europe and reinforcing its presence in scientific communication arenas.

A key scientific contribution was the participation in the international conference LANDSCAPE7 (Naples – Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 11–12 May), where the project presented a case study on the fortified settlement of Piana San Giovanni (Salandra–Ferrandina, MT). The presentation highlighted the application of Digital Humanities approaches to the analysis and valorisation of complex archaeological landscapes, strengthening comparative perspectives between Italian and Andalusian contexts.

International research networking activities were further developed through participation in the ERC Proposal Reading Days (Universidad de Cádiz, 18 May) and the International Staff Training Week Programme (19–21 May), which included direct engagement in discussions on ERC, MSCA-PF, and MSCA-DN funding schemes and the sharing of methodological and institutional best practices in competitive European research environments.

Public engagement activities reached a broader audience through participation in Pint of Science 2026 at King Lab (Cádiz, 19 May), with a lecture focused on the application of drones and LiDAR technologies to the study of historical landscapes. This was complemented by structured training in scientific communication delivered by Pint of Science España, reinforcing dissemination strategies and outreach capabilities.

From a research and technical standpoint, May was marked by intensive work on UAV–LiDAR data interpretation in collaboration with the Servicio de Drones of the Universidad de Cádiz, including dedicated meetings with Prof. Luis Barbero to advance processing workflows and landscape-scale archaeological interpretation of the Castillo de Doña Blanca dataset.

Finally, the project expanded its methodological framework through international field engagement in Incoronata (Pisticci, Italy), within a joint initiative led by Université Rennes 2, Centre Jean Bérard, and Università degli Studi della Basilicata. Activities focused on non-invasive geophysical prospection (magnetometry and gradiometry) and multisensor UAV survey strategies, contributing to comparative methodological development and strengthening the project’s role within broader Mediterranean archaeological research networks.

Overall, May 2026 marked a phase of consolidation and expansion, characterized by the integration of analytical results, international dissemination, and strengthened methodological interoperability across field-based and remote sensing approaches.

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➤ Activities of the months

In synthesis:

Month 9 (May 2026)
✓ Scientific publications and conference activities

• Participation in the international conference LANDSCAPE7. Una sintesi di elementi diacronici. Mappare i paesaggi archeologici: topografia antica e archeologia digitale per conoscere il passato e progettare il futuro (Naples – Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 11–12 May 2026), with the presentation entitled: “Digital Humanities per la fruizione e valorizzazione dei paesaggi archeologici critici: il caso dell’insediamento fortificato di Piana San Giovanni (Salandra–Ferrandina, MT)”.
• Participation in the ERC Proposal Reading Days 2026, organized by the Universidad de Cádiz (18 May 2026), focused on the analysis and discussion of European Research Council proposal strategies and evaluation procedures.
• Participation in the International Staff Training Week Programme – Empowering International Researchers through European Funding Opportunities, organized by the Universidad de Cádiz (19–21 May 2026), including participation as speaker in the roundtable entitled: “Experiences and Success Stories in ERC, MSCA-PF and MSCA-DN”.

✓ Scientific dissemination and public engagement

• Participation in the international science communication event Pint of Science 2026, held at King Lab (Cádiz, 19 May 2026), with the public lecture entitled: “Drones y LiDAR en el paisaje histórico de Cádiz”.
• Participation in the online scientific communication training programme organized by Pint of Science España, focused on dissemination strategies and public engagement in science communication. The training included the seminar “Divulgación científica: La ciencia sólo vive si se cuenta”, delivered by Francisco Algaba Chueca and Víctor Molina (Universitat Rovira i Virgili / DivulgaTGN).

✓ Research activities – UAV–LiDAR and non-invasive methodologies

• Technical meetings and collaborative work sessions with Prof. Luis Barbero and the Servicio de Drones of the Universidad de Cádiz, focused on the analysis, processing, and interpretation of UAV–LiDAR datasets acquired over the archaeological site of Castillo de Doña Blanca and its surrounding landscape.
• Participation in training and field activities within the joint archaeological project at Incoronata (Pisticci, Italy), promoted by the Université Rennes 2, Centre Jean Bérard, and Università degli Studi della Basilicata, involving the application of non-invasive survey methodologies, including magnetometer/gradiometer investigations and multisensor UAV technologies. Activities were carried out with responsibilities related to the coordination of field survey operations.

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Month 8 (April 2026)

✓ Teaching activities

• Lectures delivered within the course “Práctica de Campo”, held for students of the Máster Universitario en Patrimonio, Arqueología e Historia Marítima at the Universidad de Cádiz.

✓ Fieldwork at Castillo de Doña Blanca

• Stratigraphic excavation and archaeological investigation carried out at the northern gate sector of the fortified settlement of Castillo de Doña Blanca (8–30 April 2026).
• Historical–archaeological visit and on-site analysis at the Cueva Cantera of the Sierra de San Cristóbal (El Puerto de Santa María), located near the archaeological site of Castillo de Doña Blanca (10 April 2026), aimed at improving the understanding of local geological resources and ancient quarrying activities potentially connected to the settlement.

✓ Research activities – UAV–LiDAR and remote sensing

• Execution of UAV–LiDAR flight operations over the archaeological area of Castillo de Doña Blanca, carried out in collaboration with the Servicio de Drones of the Universidad de Cádiz.
• Bibliographic and technical study on LiDAR technology and remote sensing methodologies applied to archaeological research.

✓ Scientific publications and conference activities

• Acceptance of the contribution submitted to the XXI Congreso de la Asociación Española de Teledetección (AET), Cáceres 2026.

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Month 7 (March 2026)

✓ Scientific publications and conference activities

• Revision and final editing of the paper submitted to the XXI Congreso de la Asociación Española de Teledetección (AET), Cáceres 2026.
• Acceptance of the following contributions for the 11th International Congress of Phoenician and Punic Studies, to be held in Valletta (Malta), 9–13 November 2026: “The project «PHOENIX-UASL. Research on PHOENIcian-punic sites in Andalusia with eXperimental Unmanned Aerial System with LiDAR»: preliminary results”, Antonio Pecci; “Aplicación de tecnologías no invasivas en el yacimiento ‘Castillo de Doña Blanca’ (El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, España)”, Pablo Sicre González, Antonio Pecci, Lázaro Gabriel Lagóstena Barrios, Jesús Ignacio Jiménez Chaparro, Isabel Mª Rondán Sevilla, Ana María Niveau de Villedary y Mariñas.

✓ Research activities – UAV–LiDAR and landscape analysis

• Execution of UAV–LiDAR flight operations over the archaeological area of Castillo de Doña Blanca and its surrounding landscape, in collaboration with the Servicio de Drones of the Universidad de Cádiz, aimed at the analysis and interpretation of the broader archaeological landscape.

✓ Research activities

• Bibliographic research and technical study focused on LiDAR technology, data acquisition methodologies, and archaeological applications.

✓ Fieldwork and technical activities

• During the month, favorable weather conditions finally allowed the execution of the first planned UAV–LiDAR flight operations at Castillo de Doña Blanca, previously postponed due to adverse meteorological conditions in Andalusia during the winter months.

✓ International academic and training mobility activities

• Academic and research trip to Italy carried out together with the supervisor and members of the Phoenix Mediterránea research group, aimed at analysing innovative approaches to archaeological heritage management, accessibility, museography, public dissemination, and the study of fortified archaeological landscapes.
• Participation in seminars and scientific meetings organized in collaboration with the Università degli Studi della Basilicata and the Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici di Matera, focused on Phoenician presence in the western Mediterranean and on current methodological approaches in archaeology and heritage communication.

✓ Study visits and analysis of best practices in archaeological heritage dissemination

• Technical and scientific visits conducted at several archaeological parks, museums, and cultural institutions, including the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Parco Archeologico di Paestum e Velia, Parco Archeologico di Siris-Herakleia, Reggia di Caserta, Museo Archeologico di Ferrandina, Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Siritide, and Museo Provinciale Campano. The activities focused on the direct observation and evaluation of tactile and tiflological resources for visually impaired visitors; accessibility strategies applied to archaeological sites and museums; the use of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and interactive cartographic applications for heritage interpretation; visual reconstruction methodologies and graphic resources for archaeological dissemination; the integration of gender perspectives and inclusive narratives within museum exhibitions; and the application of both advanced digital technologies and low-cost analogical visualization systems for archaeological communication. Particular attention was dedicated to the analysis of ancient fortified settlements, defensive systems, and fortification strategies, through comparative observations on archaeological landscapes characterized by walls, gates, monumental defensive architecture, and urban organization. Further attention was devoted to the study of immersive and digital dissemination tools developed within the FArch – Ferrandina Archeologica project, including the MAFE VR Experience, aimed at reconstructing and communicating the ancient Lucanian landscape through virtual reality technologies.

✓ Research impact and knowledge transfer

• The training mobility significantly contributed to strengthening research perspectives related to archaeological accessibility, digital dissemination, public archaeology, fortified landscapes, and innovative strategies for knowledge transfer and communication in archaeological contexts.

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Month 6 (February 2026)

✓ Project reporting and management. Preparation and submission of the official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship continuous reporting deliverables:

• D.1.1 – Data Management Plan (DMP): structured definition of data collection protocols, metadata standards, storage solutions, FAIR principles compliance, long-term preservation strategy, and ethical/legal considerations related to spatial, geophysical, and LiDAR datasets.

• D.1.2 – Career Development Plan (CDP): detailed planning of scientific objectives, advanced technical training (UAS–LiDAR integration, GIS-based landscape analysis), dissemination strategy, networking, teaching activities, and long-term career positioning within European research frameworks.

✓ Scientific publications and conference submissions. Preparation and submission of the paper: “Análisis LiDAR del PNOA para la interpretación topográfica del paisaje funerario en el yacimiento del ‘Castillo de Doña Blanca’ (Cádiz, España)”, Pablo Sicre-González, Antonio Pecci, Ana María Niveau-de-Villedary y Mariñas, submitted to the XXI Congreso de la Asociación Española de Teledetección, to be held in Cáceres (8–11 June 2026), under the thematic session: Teledetección multidisciplinar: Miradas Diversas, Soluciones Comunes.

✓ Workshops and professional development. Participation in the international workshop: “Far from the city: fortifications and organisational models on the margins of traditional historiography”, hosted by the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR), Rome, Via Omero 10–12, Friday 20 February 2026 (10:30 AM).

✓ Teaching activities. Lectures delivered within the Máster de Patrimonio, Arqueología e Historia Marítima (Curso 2025–2026), Módulo Específico: Arqueología en la región geo-histórica del Estrecho de Gibraltar, Asignatura: La Interdisciplinariedad en Arqueología (A2), Coordinación: Prof. Dr. Juan Jesús Cantillo Duarte. Titles of the lectures:

• “La Arqueología científica. Los estudios interdisciplinares una perspectiva histórica”

• “La interdisciplinariedad en los estudios de sociedades cazadoras-recolectoras paleolíticas”

✓ Innovation and networking. Participation in the InnoNext Info Session 2026 (online, 18 February 2026), dedicated to European innovation ecosystems and intersectoral mobility opportunities.

#Fieldwork constraints. Due to persistent adverse weather conditions affecting the whole of Andalusia throughout the month, it was not possible to conduct the scheduled UAV–LiDAR flight operations at the archaeological site of Castillo de Doña Blanca. Activities were therefore redirected toward data processing, analytical work, and reporting tasks.

 

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Month 5 (January 2026)

✓ Research activities – GIS and spatial analysis. Development of the complete GIS project for the archaeological site of Castillo de Doña Blanca using QGIS, including:

• Integration of archaeological excavation plans, legacy cartography, orthophotos, and high-resolution DEMs

• Processing and interpretation of aerial imagery and geophysical datasets

• Spatial correlation between architectural structures, fortification systems, and surrounding landscape features

• Preparation of analytical layers for future UAV–LiDAR data integration

✓ Scientific dissemination and conference submissions. Preparation and submission of two abstracts for the 11th International Congress of Phoenician and Punic Studies, to be held in Malta:

• “The project «PHOENIX-UASL. Research on PHOENIcian-punic sites in Andalusia with eXperimental Unmanned Aerial System with Lidar»: preliminary results”, Antonio Pecci.

• “Aplicación de tecnologías no invasivas en el yacimiento ‘Castillo de Doña Blanca’ (El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, España)”, Pablo Sicre González, Antonio Pecci, Lázaro Gabriel Lagóstena Barrios, Jesús Ignacio Jiménez Chaparro, Isabel Mª Rondán Sevilla, Ana María Niveau de Villedary y Mariñas.

#Fieldwork constraints. Due to persistent adverse weather conditions affecting the whole of Andalusia throughout the month, it was not possible to conduct the scheduled UAV–LiDAR flight operations at the archaeological site of Castillo de Doña Blanca. Activities were therefore redirected toward data processing, analytical work, and reporting tasks.

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Month 4 (December 2025)

✓ Language skills

• Spanish course at the UCA Language Center (B1 level) — final exam successfully passed

✓ Project planning and coordination

• Planning and management of activities together with the supervisor

• Continuous communication and bidirectional exchange of ideas, methodologies, and techniques with the excavation team and research mission

✓ Research activities

• Bibliographic research

✓ Meetings and coordination with drone services

• Coordination with the Servicio de Drones at the University of Cádiz (UCA) for planning and scheduling flight activities

✓ Web and digital skills

• Learning WordPress for website development

• Creation of the project webpage Phoenix UASL (https://hum509.uca.es/phoenix-uasl/)

• Creation of project social media pages on Instagram, X, and Facebook

✓ Dissemination activities

• Radio interview at Canal SUR Radio, “Andalucia ahora”, 12-12-2025

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Month 3 (November 2025)

✓ Meeting and coordination with drone services

• Meeting with the Servicio de Drones at the University of Cádiz (UCA) for planning and programming flight activities

✓ Workshops and professional development

• Participation in the International Workshop “United by the Atlantic: Identifying Synergies for the Study of Archaeological Heritage” (University of Cádiz, 28 November 2025), with an oral contribution entitled:
  “PHOENIX-UASL: Research on Phoenician–Punic Sites in Andalusia Using an Experimental Unmanned Aerial System with LiDAR” (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01). Presented by Antonio Pecci (UCA – HUM-509).

✓ Language skills

• Spanish course at the UCA Language Center (B1 level)

✓ Web and digital skills

• Learning WordPress for website creation

• Creation of the project web page: Phoenix UASL (https://hum509.uca.es/phoenix-uasl/)

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Month 2 (October 2025)

✓ Language skills

• Spanish course at the UCA Language Center (B1 level)

✓ Project planning and coordination

✓ Fieldwork at Doña Blanca site

• Archaeological excavation at Doña Blanca

• Geophysical surveys at the site

• Drone flight for photogrammetric mapping of the excavation area corresponding to the northern walls of Doña Blanca

• On Càdiz and on , several days of discussion and exchange on Phoenician fortification theory and practice with one of the leading experts in the field, David Montanero Vico (Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica)

✓ Dissemination and outreach activities

• Participation in the GEOFISIC‑ARQ conference (28–29 October 2025) (link)

• Interview with journalist for newspaper article published on 14 October 2025: La Voz del Sur article on use of drones in archaeology (link)

✓ Research activities

• Bibliographic research conducted in a short period in Italy

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Month 1 (September 2025)

✓ Administrative and university preliminaries procedures

• Personal administrative tasks: residence registration, NIE, health card, etc.

• University procedures: enrollment in university services, incorporation into faculty, access badges at UCA, lesson planning, etc.

✓ Language skills

• Spanish course at the UCA Language Center (B1 level)

✓ Project planning and coordination

• Planning and management of activities with the supervisor

• Preliminary discussions with members of the Phoenix Mediterranea team and initial meeting with the team before the start of the Doña Blanca archaeological excavation

• Continuous communication and exchange of ideas, methodologies, and techniques with the excavation team and mission in a bidirectional manner

✓ Fieldwork at Doña Blanca site

• Archaeological excavation at Doña Blanca

• Geophysical surveys at the site

• Drone flight for photogrammetric mapping of the excavation area corresponding to the northern walls of Doña Blanca

✓ Preliminary project reports

✓ Research activities

• Attendance of the online course “Prompt e Tool: orientarsi nelle IA” (16 hours), focused on AI tools and prompt strategies for research, organized by UCAL – Universitari Cattolici Ateneo Lucano and Basilicata Creativa

✓ Dissemination and outreach activities

• Preparation and implementation of dissemination via social media and newspapers, including participation in:

  • La Noche Europea de los Investigadores: “Mi museo fenicio: pon a prueba tu memoria” (link)

  • La Noche Europea de los Investigadores: “Museo objetivo Gadir: construye tu colección fenicia” (link)

  • La Noche Europea de los Investigadores: “El banquete de los dioses: cata gastronómica de época” (link)

  • La Noche Europea de los Investigadores: “Pequeños artesanos del tiempo: construyendo juguetes fenicios” (link)

  • La Noche Europea de los Investigadores: “Doña Blanca Presente/Futuro: jornadas de puertas abiertas” (link)

Researcher profile in La Noche Europea de los Investigadores (link)