What do a remote medical diagnosis and the mapping of an ancient submerged shipwreck have in common? The answer lies in the need to observe and interpret complex phenomena in real time. This challenge is at the core of EBSTA (Event-Based Sensing for Telemedicine and Archaeology), an interdisciplinary project that applies an emerging visual technology –event-based cameras – to key areas of our scientific and cultural heritage.
This cutting-edge research is coordinated by Professor Gionata Salvietti from the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Siena.
“Unlike traditional cameras that record images at fixed intervals”, explains Professor Salvietti, “an event-based camera detects only changes in brightness occurring at each pixel. This means it does not waste time and energy on what remains unchanged, but reacts immediately to what changes. The result is extremely fast response times, near-zero latency, and a wide dynamic range: features that make this technology ideal for capturing delicate movements, fast gestures, or challenging environments, such as an operating room or a low-light seabed”.
In the medical field, the goal of EBSTA is to overcome the limitations of remote visits by making remote palpation possible.
“We aim to develop an innovative visuo-tactile sensor composed of a deformable pad and an event-based camera”, the researcher continues. “Thanks to this system, even the smallest displacement of the touched surface is transformed into a signal that the doctor can perceive realistically. This means more accurate examinations, more reliable diagnoses, and, in the future, new possibilities for robotic surgery and microsurgery”. Furthermore, the technology allows the recording and analysis of surgeons’ gestures, creating movement databases useful for training surgical robots or improving the education of young doctors.
At the same time, EBSTA opens up to a completely different field: underwater archaeology. Italy is extremely rich in submerged heritage – shipwrecks, ports, lagoon structures – which often remain invisible due to difficult environmental conditions. Event-based cameras, unlike traditional ones, can capture precise details even in low-visibility conditions.
“By equipping underwater drones with these sensors”, Salvietti explains, “EBSTA aims to map vulnerable sites such as the Venice lagoon more effectively. In the Millepertiche area in particular, it will be possible to monitor changes in the submerged landscape, identify remains of ports and shipwrecks, and reconstruct the ancient maritime environment with a level of detail never achieved before”.
The project, lasting 12 months, stands out for its strong interdisciplinary nature and involves the active collaboration of Professor Guido Gabriele, a maxillofacial surgeon and telemedicine expert, and researcher Federico Ugolini, a specialist in ancient topography and maritime archaeology. The team is currently engaged in recruiting young researchers who can contribute both to device development and experimental testing.
“The first prototypes already developed show encouraging results”, concludes the professor. “Event-based technology has all the characteristics needed to introduce a real leap forward, both in telemedicine – enabling more accurate remote diagnoses – and in archaeology – opening new perspectives in the study of maritime landscapes and submerged shipwrecks”.
