Atlas of abandoned villages. An online database for the ongoing representation of neglected towns in abruzzo

Abstract

This research is located within a study of the abandonment phenomena in Abruzzo where surveying, representation and documentation have already been tested through individual case studies. The specific objective of this essay aims to propose an advanced system of interactive infographics on the web through which to collect and make known the statistical, cartographic and graphical materials (2d and 3d drawings) collected in the previous study campaign. The study of living context with its forms and its subtle but fundamental relations with the intangible expressions of local culture and history, has been the starting point for an interactive online atlas project that proposes itself as a graphical and statistical support to understand and address the problems but also the potential of a territory in crisis and to stimulate desirable processes of improvement, conservation and enhancement by multiple actors such as public administrators, groups of citizens and private investors. The interactive atlas project starts from the analysis of some examples to research the technologies and the communication modes (user experience) best suited to convey the information collected, continues through the design of the information architecture and the choice of a responsive layout up to a prototype through which to simulate an optimal flow of querying, reading and sharing data.