Imagine being able to uncover ancient road networks that have been hidden for centuries beneath the Earth's surface. The "Moving in Space and Time" project combines cutting-edge artificial intelligence with archaeological and historical expertise to reconstruct historical transportation infrastructure in Styria, Austria, from Roman times to the present day.

Using AI-powered analysis of historical maps, satellite imagery, and LiDAR data, we're developing revolutionary tools called PATHFINDER and PATHMAKER. These systems will not only detect traces of ancient roads in modern landscape data but also predict how these networks once connected communities across the region.

The project builds on the rich historical resource of the Franciscean Cadastre, a detailed land survey from the 1820s, combining it with modern remote sensing technology. Our interdisciplinary team of historians, archaeologists, and computer scientists is working to understand how road networks shaped the development of Styria over two millennia.

This innovative approach will help reveal how ancient Romans planned their roads, how medieval traders adapted these routes, and how these historical pathways influenced modern transportation infrastructure. Beyond Styria, our AI tools will be available to researchers worldwide, opening new possibilities for understanding historical mobility and settlement patterns in other regions.

The project represents a significant advancement in digital archaeology and historical research, offering new insights into how past societies moved through and shaped their landscape.