Nathan M. Craig

This archaeological case study examines the foundations of urbanism through digital mapping and spatial analysis of early large precolumbian monumental complexes. Architectural themes that shape social interactions are systematically explored using spatial analyses that are rooted in human perception and movement. These same methods are employed by urban planners to extract social consequences from modern buildings. Low-cost software is used with a digital camera to craft scaled 3D models in real world coordinates. These are distributed in a free global spatial database. Together, the low-cost means of documentation, analysis, and distribution provide a proof of concept that will facilitate application of the techniques in other regions.