GREAL has recently completed a digital 3D model of Zannone Island, located in the Ponziano Archipelago north of Ponza Island, and administratively part of the municipality of Ponza (LT), in the Lazio region of Italy.
Zannone covers approximately 1 km² (103 hectares) and is completely uninhabited. Since 1979, the island has been part of the Circeo National Park.
Zannone preserves its original Mediterranean vegetation. Oak and holm oak forests, along with species such as heather, myrtle, and mastic, make it an essential refuge for many migratory bird species.
From a historical perspective, the island hosts the ruins of the Cistercian monastery of Santo Spirito, dating back to the 12th century, along with traces of human presence from prehistoric and Roman times.
To digitally recreate the island, the team carried out automated drone surveys at different times and under various environmental conditions. These flights ensured accurate and uniform coverage of the entire area. The data were processed using Agisoft Metashape, resulting in a high-resolution, geometrically accurate 3D model, ideal for both technical analysis and public dissemination.
When created at a high level of detail, this kind of 3D representation becomes a powerful tool for the valorization of Zannone. It enables in-depth study of the island’s morphology, biodiversity, and historical remains, overcoming the logistical and environmental limitations of on-site research. It also offers a new way to experience and explore the island, promoting awareness of a place that is, in many ways, both remote and extraordinarily rich.
Zannone Island – Ponziano Archipelago by GREAL-UER on Sketchfab
For further information see:
Casagrande Gianluca, Rodelli Roberta (2025), Dal dato geospaziale all’informazione geografica per documentare e valorizzare luoghi storici. Un’esperienza sull’isola di Zannone, in D’Ascenzo Annalisa e Mastrovito Davide, Interdisciplinarità e geotecnologie. Dalla ricerca all’applicazione dei saperi, Collana Dalla Mappa al GIS, Roma, Labgeo Caraci, pp. 221–238.