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Digital survey and parametric-semantic modeling of historical or conventional building artifacts are becoming progressively more oriented toward HBIM (Heritage Building Information Modelling) to XR (Extended Reality) digital fruition projects. This encompasses a wide range of applications, from technical management to historical-scientific popularization of the architectural heritage. In this sense, the research explores the potential of BIM-to-XR virtualization systems concerning the systematization of historiographic documentation and interaction between different types of datasets for managing and disseminating the heritage. In particular, the research presents a prototypal experience conducted on Mostra d'Oltremare in Naples, Italy, a mid-20th-century exhibition center. In particular, the northwest access area had a rationalist layout, while the current configuration strongly differs from the monumental, exedra-shaped one built on a project by Arch. Stefania Filo Speziale, which was largely destroyed by World War II bombing. Thus, to document and facilitate the analysis of the original configurations, the original archival sources have been digitized and cataloged; moreover, reality-based integrated digital survey campaigns have been performed for the acquisition of metric-morphological data of the complex and the segmentation of the characteristic chromatic features of the residual decorative apparatuses. This has enabled the development of a BIM-oriented multi-scale information repository to enrich the real environment with digital content, thus creating an augmented reality experience. The latter has been introduced to create a virtual tool for querying and manipulating BIM databases, using the potential of visual programming languages and traditional scripts to create a two-way flow of data between BIM and AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research question underlying this short essay refers to the possibility of realizing through a well-established workflow a high level of immersivity in the VR representation of Cultural Heritage to be used as a working tool by architects and renovators as well as heritage scholars. At present active or passive 3D scanning techniques are a known reality where the choice of data acquisition system depends both on the final purpose and characteristics of the object to be surveyed. With the maturity achieved in point cloud acquisition, post processing phases and the development of BIM-based systems, the model has given the possibility to become a repository of information related to the existing, to be used for maintenance or renovation processes. If the model can represent the existing with a certain level of detail, it can be assumed that a differentiated Level of Immersivity can be organized depending on the specific needs it intends to fulfil. In the context of renovation or preservation of Cultural Heritage, the potential offered by VR becomes more interesting when it can provide a realistic portrait not only of the geometry, but also of the materiality and state of preservation of the buildings. This research opens new possibilities to develop tools to aid designers and renovators in degradation analysis, intervention projects, and scheduled maintenance. The research question starts analyzing the possibility of creating photorealistic immersive environments that are easy to access, organized based on surveys of existing heritage buildings using specific datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, drawing products created from 3D surveying activities have been the universal medium of communication used by architects. This has resulted in a vast repository of graphic documentation that serves as a testament of the architectural heritage. The embedded information found in elevations, plans and sections holds considerable value, and it can be seamlessly integrated into the intricate graphics produced during large-scale data acquisition processes. The core objective of this research is to investigate how the information coming from the large amount of existing architectural technical drawings can support 3D heritage classification processes and avoid time-consuming annotation of materials and construction techniques of historical building facades. Starting from available sets of drawings, AI-based methodologies are applied for the annotation of orthoimages and point clouds in order to obtain a predictive model that can recognize classes of materials and construction techniques in a large amount of data. The predicted classes also allow the automatic creation of vector drawing representing the facades of new buildings, providing a novel tool to facilitate the processes of analysis and conservation of architectural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the domain of architectural heritage conservation, the recent advancements in 3D modeling have significantly improved the reconstruction fidelity of historical edifices, particularly medieval castles of the Rhine region. The existing traditional 3D modeling methodologies, though precise, are laborious and exceedingly time-consuming, requiring a detailed focus on intricate architectural nuances. Advancements in Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology have played a key role in simplifying this process, offering an adaptable and parametric approach to architectural modeling. Nonetheless, the domain of Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) faces the distinctive challenge of scarce parametric object libraries that are suitably representative of historical heritage, compounded by the architectural heterogeneity inherent in these ancient structures.This paper presents a novel methodology utilizing the Blender software suite, with an emphasis on exploiting "Geometry Nodes" and "Modifiers" for parametric modeling. We introduce a technique that significantly enhances the efficiency of modeling Rhine castles. This method supports rapid alterations and precise customization, catering to the specific analytical needs of archaeologists and heritage researchers. The proposed approach aims to bridge the gap in HBIM by providing a flexible, dynamic toolset for the accurate digital preservation of historical architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depopulation in Italy is causing the marginalization of several inner territories and municipalities, with consequences for the preservation of different levels of heritage. The Italian National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) aims to address these issues, but in some cases, the policies undertaken are not effective enough to improve development. In this context, the integration of Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS), as a potential solution in the enhancement of knowledge, information, and project management, could be an important resource to lean on. To investigate this aspect, the municipality of Dosso del Liro in the Northern part of Lake Como (Lombardy) has been chosen as a case study, based on its marginality and its territorial variety. The research methodology involves a combination of field data collection, bibliographical and archival investigations, database research, and digital recording of heritage, with the purpose of modelling and analyzing the territorial context on different aspects and at different scales. Precisely, multi-disciplinarity and multi-scalarity (but also multi-temporality) are the key points for the HBIM-GIS modelling. Thus, trying to integrate and interpret in this innovative way the information acquired, the research aims to investigate the possibility of improvement for the creation of effective strategies and projects in the Inner Areas. The idea, in fact, is that with an increased knowledge and awareness of the heritage, the requirements for the design phase will be better in sight, and the quality of the intervention will be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a workflow to flatten 3D photogrammetric models of undevelopable surfaces into unfragmented 2D texture maps. The aim is to create a texture map with reduced fragmentation compared to typical photogrammetric texture files associated with 3D models. Geometric reformatting of the mesh is required to achieve an unfragmented final texture image with enough visual quality to allow for its use in 2D editing software (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.). With a lighter model and defragmented texture, graphic documentation of conditions, treatments, or other relevant information can be performed directly. The approach considers both simple and complex architectural surfaces, with particular attention to elements that cannot be developed without introducing distortions. In the case of historic buildings, such surfaces constitute the majority, especially in the case of decorative elements and irregular vaulted systems. The approach extends to full 3D models, particularly those where orthomosaics would result in stretched details. We will discuss two methods: the first is particularly suitable when the photogrammetric project (oriented images) is still available, and the second applies to generic 3D models without the availability of the original images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital 3D reconstruction in architecture is a powerful tool for monitoring construction sites, tracking project progress, and ensuring quality control. This method involves the use of digital survey technologies, such as drones, laser scanners, and 3D modelling software, to acquire precise and detailed data on the construction process. If we consider surveying to be a phase of documenting the existing, it is possible to talk about an architectural census as the process of collecting and analysing data on buildings and structures. This information is crucial for management and planning, as it can help identify issues related to building safety, accessibility, and sustainability. The research project aims to quickly obtain a database of documentation and historical, dimensional, morphological, and material knowledge of a university building in the historic centre of Pavia that is now disused, to develop an information system for quick census and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies enable a thorough analysis of Architectural Heritage, offering various representations that provide different levels of documentation and knowledge-based conservation tools. This paper presents a methodological approach that leverages three digital representations related to three levels of documentation: Virtual Tour Informational Modelling, Point Cloud Informational Modelling, and Historical Building Information Modelling. Their characteristics and potential are compared, focusing on the effectiveness in supporting the analysis process, and the management of future conservation works. Furthermore, the dichotomy between 2D and 3D representations of AH is tackled, emphasizing the need to align with the conservation strategies, timeline, and budget constraints. It also discusses the integration of heterogeneous data and various digital representations to address the challenges in AH preventive conservation and management, resulting in the proposal of a sustainable documentation workflow to support the conservation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mediation of cultural heritage is a significant concern in the field of history and culture valorization. Technologies such as HBIM (Historic Building Information Modeling), XR (Extended Reality), and Beacons offer highly promising solutions that have demonstrated their value in various heritage-related applications, namely 3D reconstruction, documentation, restoration, preservation, and mediation. The primary objective of this paper is to propose an approach that combines HBIM () and XR (), integrating Beacon sensors to create a rich cultural mediation experience. Our approach is based on an HBIM model of the site, enriched with multi-source semantic information stored in a NoSQL database. It also leverages Beacon sensors to deliver historical content related to the study site (Mosque Al-Quaraouiyine) based on the user's position, thereby providing a cultural mediation experience within an XR environment. This study resulted in the creation of an HBIM model of the study site, the integration of a MongoDB database for storing semantic data, the utilization of the Unity SDK to retrieve this data, and the deployment of Beacons for user position detection within the XR environment. These advancements led to the display of contextual historical and multimedia information through interactive panels, offering a rich and interactive experience. The added value of this project lies in its innovative combination of several modern technologies to provide an educational and immersive experience to users, while also paving the way for future developments towards the dissemination of cultural information based on new technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) is a technology that has proven to be very effective for the management, preservation, and maintenance of heritage buildings. HBIM allows a digital replica of the building, in which information can be stored, designs can be made, and future actions can be planned. To do this, it is obviously necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the building and its historical evolution. The HBIM model can therefore become the ideal place in which to develop and model construction hypotheses of building portions that no longer exist, or even record its development over time using different phases of work. Based on this context, the aim of this article is to use the HBIM approach for modelling different construction hypotheses and use the model to study the behaviour of different configurations with structural analysis. To do this, the case study of the church of San Michele Maggiore in Pavia was chosen, which in the 15th century underwent major restorations due to structural failures of the vaults of the central nave, which were replaced with the current cross vaults. In the literature there are different constructive hypotheses of the ancient vaults, which have been modelled in HBIM precisely to evaluate the different structural behaviours following the method presented. This article presents the historical analyses and geometric surveys that led to the HBIM modelling and the model itself. In the future, after careful selection of the most appropriate software, structural calculations will be made to study the structural behaviour of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the cultural heritage (CH) sector has experienced a rapid evolution due to the introduction of increasingly powerful digital technologies and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) solutions. As for many other domains, digital data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Extended Reality (XR) are opening up extraordinary opportunities for expanding heritage knowledge capabilities while boosting the research on innovative solutions for its valorisation and preservation. Being aware of the fundamental and strategic role of CH in the history and identity of the European countries, the European Commission has assumed a central role in fuelling the policy debate and putting together stakeholders to take a step forward in CH digitization and use, primarily through initiatives, programs, and recommendations. Within this framework, the ongoing European 5DCulture project (https://www.5dculture.eu/) has been funded to enrich the offer of 3D CH digital assets in the common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage by creating high-quality 3D contents and to foster their re-use in several sectors, from tourism to education. Through 8 re-use scenarios around historic buildings and cityscapes, archaeology, and fashion, the project aims to deliver a set of digital tools and increase the capacity of CH institutions to more effectively re-use their 3D digital assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of Cultural Heritage, emergent technologies such as HBIM (Historical Building Information Modeling) and Extended Reality (XR) are becoming instrumental in creating immersive Virtual Heritage experiences. A review of relevant literature indicates that these technologies have been utilized to build 3D HBIM models and highlight them on immersive platforms for purposes of cultural dissemination and promotion. Technological progress now accommodates the assimilation of historical data via HBIM methodology, which opens avenues for novel communication forms and the distribution of information through extended reality techniques. This, in turn, ensures cultural mediation and heritage site promotion. This study aims to present a comprehensive survey of research surrounding the application of HBIM in heritage site preservation and management. Moreover, this paper intends to provide an overview of the concepts and the role of XR within HBIM, in supporting the cultural mediation and promotion of historical heritage. This research further delineates a pathway for future endeavours concerning the integration of XR technologies within the policies of architectural and built heritage conservation and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning (DL) algorithms require high quality training samples as well as accurate and thorough annotations to work effectively. Up until now a limited number of datasets are available to train DL techniques for semantic segmentation of 3D building point clouds, except a few ones focusing on specific categories of constructions (e.g., cultural heritage buildings). This paper presents a new 3D Indoor/Outdoor building dataset (BIO dataset), which is aimed to provide a highly accurate, detailed, and comprehensive dataset to be used for applications related to sematic classification of buildings based on point clouds and meshes. This benchmark dataset contains 100 building models generated from existing polygonal models and belonging to different categories. These include commercial buildings, residential houses, industrial and institutional buildings. Structural elements of buildings are annotated into 11 semantic categories, following standards from IFC and CityGML. To verify the applicability of the BIO dataset for the semantic segmentation task, it has been successfully tested by using one machine learning technique and four different DL algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning (DL) algorithms require high quality training samples as well as accurate and thorough annotations to work effectively. Up until now a limited number of datasets are available to train DL techniques for semantic segmentation of 3D building point clouds, except a few ones focusing on specific categories of constructions (e.g., cultural heritage buildings). This paper presents a new 3D Indoor/Outdoor building dataset (BIO dataset), which is aimed to provide a highly accurate, detailed, and comprehensive dataset to be used for applications related to sematic classification of buildings based on point clouds and meshes. This benchmark dataset contains 100 building models generated from existing polygonal models and belonging to different categories. These include commercial buildings, residential houses, industrial and institutional buildings. Structural elements of buildings are annotated into 11 semantic categories, following standards from IFC and CityGML. To verify the applicability of the BIO dataset for the semantic segmentation task, it has been successfully tested by using one machine learning technique and four different DL algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to investigate the application of computer vision and machine learning for the automatic detection of wall collapse damage in historic buildings caused by natural and man-made disasters. Given the complexities involved in inspecting damaged buildings, particularly in post-disaster scenarios, this research aims to establish a foundation for creating an automated assessment process. Our findings demonstrate the successful automatic detection of various shapes of wall collapse on damaged buildings from the Beirut explosion of 2020, as well as from other damaged buildings obtained from the internet, thereby highlighting the transferability of our method. This research paves the way for the development of a more robust machine learning model capable of detecting a broader range of damages, which can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of post-disaster assessment of historic structures. The paper presents a novel approach for damage detection and quantification, which underscores the potential of structural health monitoring in improving disaster response and recovery efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an established approach in the construction industry that enables efficient collaboration between stakeholders and facilitates project management. However, when it comes to historical buildings, the application of BIM can be demanding due to the complex nature of these projects. Although BIM Uses in the construction sector are well-documented (Penn State University, 2013) and we are surrounded by amazing technologies, we do not yet have standardized international workflows on how to use those state-of-the-art techniques with Cultural Heritage Assets (Bruno and Roncella, 2019). Standardizing Cultural Heritage (CH) metric documentation and Heritage/Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is challenging since each CH asset needs different information throughout the whole life cycle of the monument - both their physical and non-physical attributes, such as historical and cultural characteristics. Additionally, every work carried out on CH, such as knowledge acquisition, restoration, adaptation, etc., requires specific data inputs. Although there are guidelines books that offer some general proposals, they represent the maximum effort towards standardization. As a result, the field of HBIM has emerged as a relatively new area of scientific research that focuses on the digital representation of CH assets.This research aims to develop a working method and templates for procurement workflow standardization that will facilitate the documentation of historic buildings and heritage assets in coordination with relevant historic preservation authorities for the BIM use case - asset register. The use of various measurement methods, the registration of captured point clouds, and the transfer of geometry to a BIM-compliant 3D information model and sustainable data storage are important aspects of this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since modern times, Western immigrants have constructed summer resorts in subtropical regions of Asia, resulting in a unique historical occurrence. These summer resorts have loose and flexible distributions that reflect the specific needs and aesthetic preferences of the developers. In the Kuliang summer resort in Fuzhou, China, the seemingly random distribution of buildings and historical landscapes actually conceals complex social relationships between the hosts and managers. This paper discovered that the expansion of housing distribution in Kuliang is closely related to the social network of residents. The research employed various technological methods such as social network analysis and geographic information systems to compute and process complex social relationships and big data. Their analysis has led to three conclusions: (1) The seemingly randomized distribution of buildings and historical landscapes in Kuliang is a result of social relationship development. (2) The formation of Kuliang's summer resort is correlated with the selection of "central members" in the community and has distinct temporal characteristics. (3) Information technology has great potential for the analysis of the formation process of cultural landscapes. These research findings provide important reference for the protection of cultural heritage and understanding the role of social relationships in shaping cultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To allow a more comprehensive, adaptable, and accessible Historic Structure Report (HSR), an approach to transform HSR to Digital HSR (DHSR) utilizing Building Information Modelling (BIM) will be evaluated in this paper. HSR is the type of historic documentation ruled by the National Park Service (NPS), a U.S. Department of the Interior bureau. It is directed to owners of historic buildings to help with decisions on the structure and provide an information resource for future uses. BIM's ability to enhance the current HSR process by closing the disconnection between visual and information could suggest its potential utility in complementing or even substituting physical HSR. This research will be conducted in two approaches to support the proposal for a standard application of DHSR. The first approach is by analyzing the current guideline of HSR, which will include the evaluation of the NPS's "Preservation Brief." The second approach is to evaluate the BIM features, potential, and challenges for Digital HSR by analyzing the software as a user. The result of this study would be a proposed protocol of the DHSR, as an application guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper stresses the potential of digital technology in the field of Cultural Heritage (CH), focusing on Architectural Heritage (AH) conservation and management process. It presents a workflow based on non-parametric automatic 3D modeling and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) authoring to combine geometry and semantic information. The goal of such a methodology is to overcome time-consuming manual tasks that still limit the Historical Building Information Modelling (HBIM), which nevertheless proves to be one of the most effective digital tools for the conservation and management of AH in the medium to long term. The proposed workflow consists of five steps: the 3D survey campaign and raw data processing, the semantic annotation of images according to different information layers, the annotation transfer from images to the point cloud representing the studied architecture, the obtained Point Cloud Information Model (PCIM) automatic segmentation and 3D mesh wrapping, and finally the IFC generation for the HBIM representation. This unconventional digital chain was tested to support the knowledge representation of Villa Leonardi, an historical house in the Marche Region (Italy). The final output is a 3D model of the building, automatically processed from digital survey data, and semantically enriched thanks to the material consistency and decay analysis carried out and annotated on spherical panoramas. The effectiveness of this approach was proven in the conservation project for the façades of the house: enriched data on materials and decay supported an action plan of restoration works, which was then recorded in the HBIM model, thus permitting time and cost control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the Cultural Heritage documentation field, this contribution illustrates the adopted methods for the first digital documentation of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome.The research activity carried out included the survey of this historic building as well as direct and indirect research connected with its transformations. The tested workflow illustrates the relevance of the activities carried out in terms of knowledge implementation, conservation, monitoring, and dissemination of tangible and intangible aspects of this layered religious architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at presenting the recording and modelling work developed in the framework of restoration and conservation activities for the Basilica di San Giacomo in Como, Italy, whose construction started in the 11th century. The project started in 2022 and involved the application of the Historical Building Information Model (HBIM) methodology through a Scan-to-BIM approach was assessed. High-detailed 3D survey techniques were used to acquire the specific shape of the church and annexed buildings. Then, through different modelling strategies, the HBIM environment allowed the representation of all the architectural elements. The purpose of this model is to have essential support to plan the restoration activities and to give the different experts involved a single three-dimensional tool for managing all the information during the development of the construction works. The possibility to update the model over time with geometric and non-geometric information will provide a powerful tool also for other future activities, such as the installation of a monitoring system that could reveal the displacements of bearing elements of the church. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution fits into the framework of Digital Heritage, within the diagnostic process, leading up to restoration. Control and monitoring of architectural heritage are still open topics, with respect to requirements as simplicity, non-invasiveness and cost-effectiveness of both procedures and equipment. A peculiar gap concerns the accessibility to the artefact, which could be compromised by bad state of preservation, poor hygienic/sanitary conditions, or unsafe post-emergency circumstances, as well as by considerable extent, complex morphology, or incidental access conditions, due to the simultaneous presence of multiple working groups.In recent years, literature is moving towards an optimization of the investigation phases, by implementing digital technologies for the acquisition, elaboration and interpretation of 2D/3D data, to assess the state of conservation of a building or its main components. Besides, digital image processing and artificial intelligence are progressively rationalizing the analysis of the collected data. Furthermore, easy common devices, like spherical cameras or smartphones, have been introduced for the virtual reconstruction and representation of architectural environments, with the purpose of assessing their morphology and conditions. However, there is still an absence of harmonized standard procedures.To address these issues, the paper proposes a rapid pipeline, involving easy-to-use devices and expeditious procedures, to remotely assess, quantify, and monitor the extension of surface decay of historical buildings. A workflow based on the use of 360° images and videogrammetry has been defined and tested on a representative case study, both for its cultural value and for its limited accessibility, demonstrating a great suitability to the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation actions often challenge traditional planned conservation tools, especially when referring to the management of data relating to the existing building heritage due to the huge amount of information to be acquired and archived. In response to this requirement, the Building Information Modelling (BIM) process, applied to historical buildings as Historical-BIM (HBIM), could be an effective solution for integrating different types of data concerning not only the geometric features but also useful qualitative information in conservation and preservation works (i.e. the type of materials, construction techniques, the presence of degradation and instability, intervention techniques, etc.). Although the BIM process has reached a considerable level of maturity, several aspects related to the application of the method to existing structures through the Scan-to-BIM process require further research; particularly the need to find suitable approaches to integrate, manage and store thematic information. The article describes the work carried out in the case study of Villa Castelnuovo, an eighteenth-century architectural building located in Palermo (Italy), in which, starting from an integrated survey, it was possible to generate an HBIM model to support all the phases concerning preventive maintenance, long-term redevelopment and management of the architectural asset. The research focused mainly on the modelling and information integration phases, developing a procedure applicable to different contexts for storing, managing and analysing the external façade decay necessary for documenting and monitoring the architectural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrastructure heritage is the symbol of the highest standard of the technical construction and design methodologies of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). As an important component of the cultural heritage of the CER, their conservation hasn't attracted more attention than the architectural heritage part. However, some heritage infrastructure components have been already demolished while others were threatened by urban expansion and natural degradation during the past hundred years. In this study, we have analysed structural features based on the original drawings and fieldwork for the reconstruction of the vanished and invisible parts of CER. HBIM will be used to support the conservation of the surviving elements. In addition, we collected geographical coordinates of the heritages using on-site GNSS records and Google Earth®. We propose a method to facilitate the preservation of this historical infrastructure by building a database that integrates HBIM and GIS, including information about historical data and the status quo. In this way, this database will not only be useful for planning purposes by the government and the conservation agencies, but also it will benefit the entire society and the public through its online display and information collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GIS tools in archaeology have become fundamental for professionals and researchers around the world. In recent years, the "3D revolution" has drastically changed archaeological practices and methods, including the use of GIS. This paper presents the results of a project aimed at building an integrated system for the management and study of archaeological data in 2D and 3D, connecting GIS to BIM. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an innovative technology developed for architectural design and planning, and later adapted for cultural heritage and historic buildings (HBIM). More recently, it has been tested on archaeological sites. Some attempts have been made to connect landscape scale GIS projects with BIM models of individual buildings. However, these have not been applied specifically to archaeology thus far. Through the use of open-source software, a seamless workflow from data collection in GIS to 3D visualization and modeling in a native OpenBIM environment has been created. The paper illustrates this methodology with a case study about Altinum, a Roman city in northeastern Italy near Venice. The GIS component of the project manages the archaeological map of the city, while the OpenBIM application allows the virtual reconstruction of the sites. For the latter, the case of the ancient city-gate of Altinum is considered and explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional digitization has been widely used for the documentation of built heritage. This paper presents two different approaches to the three-dimensional documentation of historic buildings using active 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) devices and data integration from other heterogeneous sources. Both methods aim to produce accurate and complete 3D surveys by integrating data from other sources, such as historical photographs, conservation reports, and traditional drawings, to enable a geometric analysis of the buildings. The first approach aims for completeness and redundancy of geometric information. The second method focuses on rapidness and is suitable for situations where the building is not easily accessible. The two approaches are applied to the case studies of Diotti Palace in Milan and Uzbekistan Hotel in Tashkent, demonstrating the efficiency of the two different datasets for analyzing the built heritage. The paper compares these two approaches and highlights their advantages and drawbacks in terms of the reliability of the resulting data. The study shows how two different methodologies can be adopted in different scenarios to obtain a comprehensive database for reliable and in-depth analysis of historic buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural Heritage has been significantly impacted by advancements in the Information and Communications Technology domains, which have inspired a strong multidisciplinary interest and enabled the development of innovative strategies for the preservation, management, and enhancement of the heritage itself. Notably, the digitisation process, which entails the acquisition of 3D data obtained through cutting-edge LiDAR and photogrammetric scanning techniques, is set up as an advantageous tool for producing an accurate representation of the historical buildings. In addition, point clouds and reliable HBIM models have caught the minds of the architectural community, and are now receiving huge backing from Artificial Intelligence. Such support is provided by procedures that link semantic features to structural and decorative elements. In this scenario, the following research is presented: the aim is to test an automated iterative process within a scan-to-BIM methodology, starting from automatic point cloud segmentation operations with open-source, model-fitting algorithms. This method will prove to be a solid support for the final phase of the 3D parametric/adaptive reconstruction that's also compatible with BIM Authoring. The study focuses on various masonry vaulted systems. These types of structures are first examined using ideal models, which were perfectly discretised and set up by the user, and then employed as a starting point for validating the parameters of the RANSAC algorithm on point clouds acquired by laser scanners. These latter ones nevertheless have irregular geometries, making comprehension, analysis, and management far more challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conditions can favour different kinds of deterioration in historic reinforced concrete structures. This preliminary results from literature review are focused on the climate-induced risks affecting reinforced concrete buildings with respect to mechanical, chemical, and biological deterioration. To this purpose, a three-step process defined by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram, was used leading to the inclusion of 45 documents identified via the search engines Scopus and Web of Science. The outcomes highlight that chemical and mechanical decays are the most investigated ones, being mainly triggered by salt weathering and freezing-thawing cycles. It was found that experimental and theoretical approaches are often coupled to estimate climate-induced deterioration mechanisms, also considering environmental parameters. Finally, the literature search provides some milestones which can be used to evaluate gaps and research needs in the field of climate-induced conservative risks affecting reinforced concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The French 20th century heritage is in a situation of obligatory change within the framework of a societal transition. However, this change must be accompanied by a careful and precise look at the building so as not to lead to a complete banalization of the specific architecture of the different trends of the 20th century. These transformations have already started and are not dependent on research or patrimonialization for implementation. Technical solutions alone pose significant risks of architectural missteps. Thus this paper introduce a tool-based method for the production of systematic knowledge on this fragile "heritage". By applying it to a corpus of seven collective housing operations of the 20th century, as a framework for observing the development of analysis criteria, shaping the tools and confronting the reproducibility of the method, this paper seeks to present the proposals of objectification of gaze and memory, in an approach of openness and diversity of the knowledge (interdisciplinary scientifically, but also profane). Whether through dedicated visual representation or the use of conceptual models such as CIDOC-CRM, the ultimate goal is to examine the emergence of intrinsic protection for 20th-century architectural heritage by providing inhabitants access to the architecture and the knowledge produced through its objective analysis and explicit qualities, thereby enabling their acculturation. The objective is to question the perceived appearance of such protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COSMO-SkyMed is the flagship Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite constellation of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) that, among the many civilian applications for which it was originally conceived, is nowadays successfully exploited for cultural heritage applications. Current capabilities offered by both the First and Second Generations satellites are reviewed in light of the experience undertaken by ASI through data exploitation initiatives with scientific and commercial users, and more importantly in the framework of institutional projects and cooperation agreements such as those with the Colosseum Archaeological Park and the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). The interferometric nature of COSMO-SkyMed SAR acquisitions is the key feature exploited in structural and ground deformation monitoring of monuments and historical buildings, so as the constellation is currently the essential Earth Observation asset supporting MiC's Extraordinary Plan of Monitoring and Conservation of Immovable Cultural Heritage. Further applications that could be enabled by COSMO-SkyMed data are explored through internal ASI research activity, such as the use of high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for topographic surveying of archaeological tells and condition assessment to estimate the impact due to natural and anthropogenic threats (e.g. looting, agriculture, destruction). Finally, current perspectives towards operational use and greater user uptake of COSMO-SkyMed for purposes of scientific downstream are opened by the new ASI programme Innovation for Downstream Preparation for Science (I4DP_SCIENCE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Four Corners region, where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona meet, is the location of one of the most significant archaeological sites in the United States, the Lowry Pueblo in the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. This case study examines two aspects of the documentation process for the Lowry Pueblo. First, a collaborative model of multiple stakeholders dedicated to an integrated digital and analog documentation approach. Second, the method for determining how digital and analog techniques were used from site preparation to the final submittal of Historic Architectural Building Survey (HABS) drawings to the Library of Congress. This integrated documentation approach used for the Lowry Pueblo is part of a strategy informed by predicted future human impacts on these rare ancient resources and fulfilling a unique tribal request for minimally impactful management. The approach allows natural erosional processes to continue unabated at less visited remote "backcountry" cultural sites, and for proactive stabilization to occur at heavily visited publicly accessible "front country" areas. The combined documentation methods used allowed for creation of highly detailed models, digital applications, and nuanced, aesthetic HABS drawings of the stunning 1,000-year-old cultural resources. The outcomes contribute to informed decision making for future analysis, stabilization assessment, resource interpretation, archiving, and the dissemination of information for public benefit, while deepening an understanding of the history and people that inhabited the land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution presents a simple workflow for surveying historical buildings and sites using crowd-sourced images. The proposed approach involves collecting large datasets of images from the internet using free plugins, followed by automatic image analysis and filtering using AI-based tools. 3D reconstructions are then created with Structure from Motion (SfM) and neural radiance fields (NeRF). To assess the reliability of crowd-sourced surveys, the 3D reconstructions are compared to high-precision laser scans of large medieval churches. In addition, the paper demonstrates the potential of this workflow in the field of building archaeology through detailed geometrical analyses of several iconic domes such as Hagia Sofia. By enabling remote and 4D surveys, crowd-sourced reconstruction methods open up novel opportunities for rapid, affordable and borderless research on cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the representation of Stratigraphic Units (SUs) and the communication of Building Archaeology analysis in three dimensions within the context of Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM). The author propose a methodological approach to incorporate 2D Building Archaeology analysis into the HBIM environment, aiming to support experts involved in research and restoration phases. Moving from 2D to 3D graphics in Building Archaeology introduces challenges in describing the third dimension of SUs, particularly regarding thickness and the relationship between different wall layers. In conclusion, the paper suggests the creation of a new category of HBIM called Building Archaeology Informative Modelling (BAIM), which aims to address the specific requirements of representing Building Archaeology in three dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the image capture for close-range photogrammetry in the context of the modelling of a round tower with repetitive texture (made of bricks), both inside and outside. For that purpose we test different acquisition strategies that differ in terms of camera path (straight or circular) and number of images acquired at each camera position, that is with or without oblique images. Besides, the formula to compute the curvilinear base according to a given overlap rate between successive frontal photos are written for each strategy. The comparisons rely on the observation of the aspect of the different dense point clouds (noise, holes), the deformation seen in the orthomosaics and values extracted from the photogrammetric projects such as metric accuracies with GCP. Our results confirm some art rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates an approach for sharing and safeguarding modelling expertise based on the use of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM). The approach involves the exchange of information between subjects involved in the creation of HBIM models, an exchange enhanced by Semantic Web Technologies.HBIM datasets usually contain rich and detailed information about historic buildings and their construction; this experiment, in a slightly unusual way, deals with another type of information regarding something that happens in the background during the definition of an HBIM model: the procedures that create the complex three-dimensional geometries typical of historical architecture. This kind of information does not usually live inside BIM models and is even less likely the subject of semantic enrichment. It is however beneficial to record and make available this kind of information for several reasons, discussed in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) has become the ideal tool for professionals studying building conservation and restoration. The BIM model allows one to identify structural deformations following three-dimensionally resolved models. In addition, this methodology is specifically designed to register parametric construction models, as an information manager by adding semantic components to the model, including information on the different transformations of the historical artefact, and allowing continuous progress in the building's life cycle. In this work, graphic information and data related to conservation projects are compiled that allow a management of all the documentation integrated in the same Project, from all the disciplinary fields related to the heritage conservation and rehabilitation process. Specifically, from the geometric identification and the restoration documents, it is intended to develop an experimental application where both terrestrial laser scanning records and the use of image processing routines can allow automatic operations to monitor alterations in façades, in order to subsequent control by conservation experts. For this, a building with certain characteristics has been chosen, such as the Miguel de Mañara palace in the city of Seville. A building that has a main façade of 43.30 metres in length by 6.75 metres in height and, in which its façade rotates in an angled guideline to adapt to the urban planning of the time. The analysis is based on the applicability of two segmentation algorithms and the construction of the multilayer enclosure model where the different stratigraphies of the results obtained are exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitisation for the purposes of recording cultural heritage and its condition is conventionally associated with the task of documentation for conservation. Occasionally emergency recording will anticipate the potential imminent destruction of heritage at risk. By contrast here, although the heritage status of the site whilst proposed in the 1990s, it was never secured yet the closure and eventual dismemberment of the buildings is a plan that is already underway. The coal washeries of Onllwyn sit within a vast landscape that is now most widely recognised as a National Park. During the last century, however, it was a thriving industrial site. The assembly of buildings used to wash and sort coal prior to distribution were recorded using a terrestrial laser scanner and an aerial drone in August 2022 shortly prior to the closure of a site that had been part of a changing industrial landscape since the mid-nineteenth century. As part of a wide agreement to build a historic narrative for a once large industrial site with a planned closure a comprehensive historical review has been built. This included the acquisition of historic maps but also of numerous historical aerial and terrestrial photographs as well as the collation of films and oral histories. Here pointclouds generated from terrestrial laser scans, photogrammetry from drone imagery and photogrammetry from historical aerial images have been combined in an attempt to create a navigable digital backdrop to the decommissioning of a vast industrial landscape as it anticipates a new future. The aim of the models created is to provide a virtual spatial platform to co-locate memories of a community life that is left centred around a lost place of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-town historic urban environments increasingly face different pressures that may prevent their future sustainability. To promote a recovery plan for those centers, an interdisciplinary methodology is needed to orient future actions toward innovative solutions. However, the development of such a plan needs the definition of a dedicated methodology to drive the definition of recovery actions. A key role is the possibility of low-cost methods for mapping and classifying the built heritage. Both ground and aerial (UAV) solutions can be used to create 3D city models for further classification and analysis. However, integrating those two data in small city centers poses specific challenges. This paper presents a combined approach using ground and aerial (UAV) data to comprehensively reconstruct a part of a small-town city center. Ground data are video acquired with 360° (spherical) cameras. Previous works proved 360° videos can reconstruct with good metric accuracy and complete building façades of historic city centers. The combined reconstruction is tested in the so-called "Casa Teatro", an abandoned building in the city center of Vogogna, a small town in the Ossola Valley (Northern Italy). The results of the combined image orientation are validated by using ground truth data (Check Points) acquired with a total station. In contrast, the final 3D model reconstruction results are compared with a laser scanning acquisition of the building to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the photogrammetric point cloud. In addition, matching among 360° frames and UAV frames is studied by analysing connectivity graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cultural heritage, three-dimensional documentation of historic buildings is fundamental for conservation and valorisation projects. In recent years, the consolidated tools and methods: Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and close-range photogrammetry, have been joined by portable Mobile Mapping Systems (MMSs), which can offer significant advantages in terms of speed of survey operations at the price of reduced accuracy. The reduction of survey times and, therefore, costs makes the application of MMS techniques ideal for the preliminary stages of analysis of historical artifacts, when a rapid survey is indispensable for estimating the costs of conservation interventions.In this paper, we present a methodology for the expeditious survey of historic buildings and the surrounding urban fabric that is based on the use of an MMS and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The MMS is the Gexcel Heron MS Twin color. It was used to survey two architecture of interest and the urban context surrounding them from the ground level. The UAV is the DJI Mini 2, used to integrate the terrestrial survey by acquiring the buildings' roofs. The case study presented in the paper is the survey of San Clemente and San Zeno al Foro churches, two historic churches in the city centre of Brescia (Italy).The result are a complete point cloud of the two buildings and a metric virtual tour of all spaces. These results were made available to the architects through the Cintoo web platform to plan future activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BIM (Building Information Modelling) approach has been extensively studied in the case of new buildings and existing heritage (where it gained the term HBIM where H refers to Historic or Heritage). Numerous researchers have studied its applicability to cultural heritage conservation design, focusing on Scan2BIM processes, ontologies, semantic segmentation, and parametric modeling. But to ensure the applicability of the HBIM approach in the heritage sector, it is also necessary to verify that the various actors in the sector are ready to use it. The legislation foresees a growing adoption of this system in all areas of Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand if the National administration entities are prone to implement it in their own processes.This article deals precisely with the training and research experience carried out in collaboration with the Superintendence of Aosta (the government department responsible for monuments, the environment, and historical buildings preservation) to understand whether the State preservation institution can actually use this system in its activities and, if so, to understand which actions need to be undertaken to ensure full interoperability in the heritage preservation sector as well. The activities carried out included a training course (update) designed with a specific scenario in mind: the HBIM model as a means of transferring the restoration project to the Superintendence, as a way for evaluating the model, and as a place for expressing opinions and comments. The training included a simulation involving a conservation design on the Tour De Pailleron of Aosta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of cultural heritage can be affected by different changes in temperature and humidity within architectural spaces, so energy performance and interior microclimate of historic buildings require adaptation to new maintenance and prevention studies. The search for these new investigations brings cultural heritage closer to new digital technologies such as Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM). In this work, a new interdisciplinary methodology is developed between energy operators and BIM operators, so that a new framework is created to monitor energy parameters through intelligent sensors that measure temperature and humidity in the fully interoperable and semantically enriched 3D model itself. The study's commitment involves solving the interoperability workflow between sensors and the BIM platform, taking advantage of this new interconnectivity. For the study, a methodology applied to the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Seville was carried out, where from a survey through a georeferenced terrestrial laser scanner with topographic equipment, it is modelled from the point cloud, incorporating the sensors in the HBIM Project. In the workflow, it has been shown that the integration of microclimate data inside churches can be managed directly in the environment of an HBIM-based model and transfer a reverse flow in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution presents a process of documentation and conservation of the built Cultural Heritage, tested on a partially disused case study located in the urban fabric of the city of Pavia. The actions defined led to the design and implementation of a tridimensional Information System obtained integrating data collected across different research areas, reality-based models and with the goal of enriching a tool for the documentation and management historical buildings owned by the University of Pavia. The process of documentation, three-dimensional digitisation, and census of the architectural elements on an urban and-architectural scale defines a tool for standardised analyses on building complexes of the same property and for large-scale planning of monitoring and valorisation activities. The research is based on the use of tridimensional Information System, as one of the indicators of the 2030 Agenda, in line with target 11/11.4, to activate a process of reuse and sustainable management of urban heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H-BIM (Heritage Building Information Modelling) is principle and system of use of historic buildings that can be used for the management, reconstruction or renovation and restoration of monuments. It is a set of geometric and descriptive information about a building. In the last decade, several historical objects were documented using modern methods, mainly advanced photogrammetrical and laser technologies, for a wide range of users to get benefits from economically, safety, presentation, and life cycle management of historical buildings. The rapid development in geomatics is possible thanks to advanced technologies of data capturing, sufficient capacity of computer technology and transmission and information networks. The most used technologies are terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), personal laser scanning (PLS) or mobile mapping systems (MMS), terrestrial or aerial drone based close-range digital photogrammetry (using SfM – structure from motion technology and MVS – multi view stereo). Today's modern advanced technologies allow geometrical and textural data collection within a few centimetres' accuracy outside and inside infrastructure by various methods of PLS, photogrammetrical SfM and TLS. In terms of object visualisation, VR or AR (virtual or augmented reality) technology is proving to be suitable. The following text discusses the use of geomatics technologies for the creation of H-BIM on the example of a cultural monument in Skopje, North Macedonia, including visualization in virtual reality (VR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Historical Buildings (UHBs) preserve the past and memory of a city. Collecting and managing UHB knowledge efficiently is of vital importance to protect local culture heritages and meet the demands of sustainable development. However, UHB knowledge is commonly hidden in the texts from different sources, making it hard to access and manage by general methods efficiently. Meanwhile, domain agnostic knowledge graphs are challenging to express the rich semantic and multi-hop relationships among UHB knowledge. To address the above problems, we proposed a general framework for the extraction and management of the key knowledge from free texts about urban historical buildings. In this study, we attempted to build an UHB knowledge graph from free texts obtained from Internet. Firstly, we designed the UHB domain ontology to regulate the knowledge of urban historical building. Next, the structured knowledge was extracted from web text with Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies. Finally, we built the UHB knowledge base and developed a Beijing UHB knowledge graph. Furthermore, we demonstrated knowledge retrieval and visualization based on UHB knowledge graph. Our experiment shows that mining UHB knowledge from free text is feasible and important for urban historical building conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of society, the protection of historical buildings has been paid more and more attention. In recent years, China has increased the surveying and mapping of historical buildings buildings. This paper takes the historical building protection project in Zhejiang Province, China as an example. This paper introduces the method of combining UAV aerial photography, 3D laser scanning, close close-range photogrammetry and traditional surveying and mapping techniques. Mapping and information collection of historical buildings. And on this basis, the content and methods of quality inspection of historical architectural achievements are introduced. Guarantee the reliability of historical building archives and data quality quality. This will play a supporting role in the future repair and maintenance of historical buildings buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant issues in Cultural Heritage is the management of ancient buildings to monitor their state of conservation or to plan actions in their maintenance; this issue can be now approached thanks to the use of the Scan-to-BIM process. This method allows the creation of parametric models into a BIM environment, which are capable of enhancing the geometrical representation of building elements and integrating different types of data.This paper shows the results of the research activities carried out by the Department of Engineering at University of Palermo (Italy) on applying the Scan-to-BIM approach to the survey and the modelling of an ancient Arab-Norman church in Palermo. This activity was motivated by a renewed interest from the local Administration towards the Arab-Norman Cultural Heritage in the city, since other more famous coeval monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2015. The morpho-typological style of the church has been spotlighted by a high-detailed 3D laser scanner and photogrammetric survey. The aim of the modelling phase was to obtain a parametric model which was suit to render the peculiarity of this building at its best. Extensive knowledge about historical building techniques has been needed in order to model all the architectural elements. The results of this study allowed to obtain a HBIM of an Arab-Norman building and to reveal the weaknesses affecting the whole workflow; these were mainly due to the approach chosen for the modelling of the most particular architectural elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest within the construction industry in the preservation, rehabilitation, and conservation of heritage-value buildings has led to the implementation of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM). Especially in Greece, where the number of historical buildings is considerably large, having efficient and standardized processes of Cultural Heritage management and conservation becomes a prerequisite. The rigorously accurate representation of old constructions requires specific geometric modelling processes in order to generate the necessary relevant libraries of parametric objects. This paper describes the development of a parametrized library for the main parts of a Doric Temple to be used for introducing such parts in an HBIM system. Moreover, to verify the correctness of the parametrized column an application is performed in which the dimensions of a real column are compared with the dimensions of the standard one. The study improves the potential of the BIM process for its application to buildings with distinctive architecture in the context of the preservation or conversion of heritage buildings. In first section the term HBIM is explained and its usefulness to cultural heritage (CH) is justified. Section 2 describes previous attempts to create HBIM libraries for historic structures. After that, the construction of parametric model, which was created with visual programming Dynamo, is presented. Finally, the efficiency of the adjustment of a standard column to a given point cloud is described and in the end the results of the application are compared and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]