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Monaco Visual Fieldwork Archive · Public Guide
MVFA–VAM · Public Evidence & Code Guide
A public guide to interpreting photograph and video identifiers, Case IDs, evidence-function codes and the Visibility–Accessibility Matrix used by the Monaco Research Observatory.
Reading rule: the Asset ID identifies the file; the Case ID identifies the defined spatial unit; the Evidence Code describes the evidentiary function; and the labels V1–V5 / A1–A5 indicate which dimensions the asset may support. None of these elements, on its own, constitutes a VAM score.
Current Archive Structure
75 Cases · 225 Visual Assets
The consolidated version of the matrix covers 75 spatial cases and 225 visual assets: 160 photographs and 65 videos. Each asset appears only once in the inventory, although it may contribute to several VAM dimensions or more than one analytical assessment.
Contents
01
Purpose
Each photograph and video in the Monaco Visual Fieldwork Archive receives a stable identifier, making it possible to recognise the same asset across the master inventory, the project’s public pages, case profiles, the research repository and future academic publications.
The identifier does not replace the image description. The description explains what the asset shows ; the code establishes which specific asset it is, the case to which it belongs and the evidentiary function assigned to it within the VAM–MVFA system.
02
Reading a Public Evidence Line
The recommended public format consists of four elements. The following example refers to a real asset associated with case VAM-MC-001:
MVFA-P-2025-CD-000004 · VAM-MC-001 · CTX · V1,V2,V5
Asset ID. Uniquely identifies the photograph.
Case ID. Identifies the defined spatial unit to which it belongs.
Evidence Code. Indicates that the asset fulfils a contextual evidentiary function.
VAM Dimensions. Indicates which dimensions the asset may help document.
03
Understanding the Asset ID
MVFA-P-2025-CD-000004
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MVFA | Monaco Visual Fieldwork Archive. |
| P | Photograph. Videos use the letter V. |
| 2025 | Year of capture verified in the inventory. |
| CD | Geographical zone code. |
| 000004 | Sequential identifier of the asset within the archive. It must be copied exactly as recorded in the inventory; the number of leading zeros must not be reconstructed or normalised manually. |
04
Geographical Zone Codes
The zone codes currently used in the consolidated inventory are:
The zone code forms part of the Asset ID. It should not be confused with the Macrospace or the Case ID, which serve different analytical functions.
05
Case IDs & Public Metadata
VAM-MC-001
A Case ID identifies a defined spatial unit. It does not necessarily represent an entire building, institution or neighbourhood. It may refer to a square, entrance, terrace, lobby, approach route, harbour edge or controlled threshold.
The interpretation of any score must respect the Spatial Scope defined for that case. For example, the public façade of a building and its controlled interior entrance may constitute separate cases because they present different visibility and accessibility conditions.
06
Evidence Codes
The following codes describe the asset’s evidentiary function . They are neither VAM dimensions nor final analytical categories, and they do not automatically produce a result.
Contextual view of the space, its boundaries and its visual relationship with the surroundings. A CTX code does not automatically generate a symbolic interpretation or an additional classification.
Approach or route towards the spatial unit, useful for documenting continuity, detours, friction and arrival conditions.
The actual transition point at which conditions of access, circulation or legitimacy of presence change.
A physical or material element that blocks, separates, demarcates or channels movement, such as ropes, chains, gates, planters or equivalent barriers.
A visible price, menu, rate or other economic condition relevant to characterising participation and supporting the assessment of A2.
A visible sign, opening-hours notice, instruction, reservation requirement, identification requirement or rule that conditions access, use or temporal availability.
Security, reception, valet or service personnel where an observable surveillance, mediation or regulatory function exists. The mere presence of staff does not, in itself, demonstrate filtering or exclusion.
Stairs, a change in level, a ramp or another elevation difference relevant to documenting physical continuity and accessibility.
Furniture or an arrangement for occupying the space, used to document conditions for resting or remaining in place. FUR is an evidence code, not a VAM dimension or an analytical result in itself.
07
VAM Dimensions
The labels at the end of the public evidence line identify the dimensions that the asset may help document. They do not express the 0–4 score assigned to the case.
Visibility
| V1 | External Visual Exposure — external visual exposure of the space. |
| V2 | Sightline Continuity — continuity or fragmentation of sightlines. |
| V3 | Interior & Activity Legibility — legibility of the interior, uses or observable activity. |
| V4 | Display Intensity — intensity with which goods, architecture or activities are visually displayed. |
| V5 | Observation Opportunity — legitimate opportunity to stop, observe or document the space. |
Accessibility
| A1 | Physical Accessibility — physical possibility of approaching or entering the area assessed. |
| A2 | Economic Accessibility — economic conditions required to participate or remain. |
| A3 | Social Accessibility — social legitimacy or mediation required for presence or access. |
| A4 | Temporal Accessibility — availability of the space according to opening hours, conditions or temporal arrangements. |
| A5 | Normative Accessibility — extent of requirements, rules or authorisations governing use or access. |
08
Evidence Tags vs. Case Scores
The distinction between evidence tag and case score is essential. If a photograph is tagged V1,V2,V5, this means only that it may provide evidence for those dimensions. It does not mean that the case has V1=1, V2=2 or V5=5, or that the asset produces a score on its own.
Asset ID · Case ID · Evidence Code · potentially supported dimensions.
V1–V5 and A1–A5 on a 0–4 scale, plus Visibility / Accessibility indices of 0–100.
Bands and interpretation through the Matrix Configuration.
In the final dataset, indices are calculated as 25 × the mean of valid dimensions. The methodological rule requires at least four valid dimensions per axis; when all five are available, each contributes 20% of the corresponding index.
09
Locate & Cite an Asset
How to Locate an Asset
To locate a photograph or video, always use the complete Asset ID. This identifier links the asset to its spatial case, evidentiary function, VAM dimensions, file name and, when available in the public release, its repository record.
Example Search
MVFA-P-2025-CD-000004
How to Cite a Visual Asset
The reference should retain the Asset ID so that the visual item can be located unambiguously. Where a DOI or persistent URL exists for the corresponding release, it should be included in the final reference.
Suggested Format
Reinaldo-Virgili, X. (Year). Description of the visual asset [Photograph or video, Asset ID]. Monaco Visual Fieldwork Archive (MVFA–VAM).
Example
Reinaldo-Virgili, X. (2025). Longitudinal view of one of the principal sightlines across Place du Casino [Photograph, MVFA-P-2025-CD-000004]. Monaco Visual Fieldwork Archive (MVFA–VAM).
10
Research Infrastructure
Control of Case IDs, Asset IDs, files, evidentiary functions, dimensions, scores and traceability.
Repository for datasets, methodological documentation, releases and persistent records when published.
Public explanation of the instrument, methodology, results, empirical profiles and project architecture.
Selection of visual evidence and fieldwork sequences for public communication, retaining the Asset ID where relevant.
Research Connections
Related Research Pages
Visibility–Accessibility Matrix
General presentation of the instrument, its axes and interpretative logic.
Methodology & Codebook
Definitions, anchors, scoring rules and evidence criteria.
Empirical Validation & Final Results
Empirical validation and final results of VAM 2.0.
