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The project of digital transformation of Museo Egizio di Torino started in response to the rapid change of its structure and needs. The project is centred on the integration of heterogeneous information and data to implement collection management, conservation and research workflows. This paper presents the concept and design of a management system, called SiME (Sistema Museo Egizio) that the Museum conceived in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano. The project is intended not only as a mere acquisition of technological tools, but rather as the construction of an integrated system that facilitates dialogue and connections between all museum activities, from daily management to research, from the design of installations to the generation of multiple possible narratives. Considering the pace of technological innovation a solid methodological approach has been adopted in order to ensure the longevity of the designed solutions in a long-term perspective.

Good practices in heritage conservation are based on accurate information about conditions, materials, and transformation of built heritage sites. Therefore, heritage site documentation and its analysis are essential parts for their conservation. In addition, the devastating effects of recent catastrophic events in different geographical areas have highly affected cultural heritage places. Such areas include and are not limited to South Europe, South East Asia, and Central America. Within this framework, appropriate acquisition of information can effectively provide tools for the decision-making process and management. Heritage documentation is growing in innovation, providing dynamic opportunities for effectively responding to the alarming rate of destruction by natural events, conflicts, and negligence. In line with these considerations, a multidisciplinary team – including students and faculty members from Carleton University and Yangon Technological University, as well as staff from the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library (DoA) and professionals from the CyArk foundation – developed a coordinated strategy to document four temples in the site of Bagan (Myanmar). On-field work included capacity-building activities to train local emerging professionals in the heritage field (graduate and undergraduate students from the Yangon Technological University) and to increase the technical knowledge of the local DoA staff in the digital documentation field. Due to the short time of the on-field activity and the need to record several monuments, a variety of documentation techniques, including image and non-image based ones, were used. Afterwards, the information acquired during the fieldwork was processed to develop a solid base for the conservation and monitoring of the four documented temples. The relevance of developing this kind of documentation in Bagan is related to the vulnerability of the site, often affected by natural seismic events and flooding, as well as the lack of maintenance. Bagan provided an excellent case study to test the effectiveness of the proposed approach, to prevent and manage the damages of catastrophic events, and to support retrofitting actions. In order to test the flexibility of adopted methodology and workflow, temples with different features – in terms of architectural design, shape, and geometry – were selected. The goals of these documentation activities range from testing digital documentation workflows for the metric and visual recording of the site (reviewing strengths and limitations of particular recording techniques), to the definition of effective conditions assessment strategies.

Currently, the commercial market offers several tools for digital documentation of historic sites and buildings. Photogrammetry and laser scanning play a fundamental role in the acquisition of metric information, which is then processed to generate reliable records particularly useful also in the built heritage conservation field. Although potentially very fast and accurate, such techniques require expert operators to produce reliable results, especially in the case of complex and large sites. The aim of this paper is to present the digital workflow developed for data acquisition and processing of the Shaikh Isa Bin Ali house in Muharraq, Bahrain. This historic structure is an outstanding example of Bahrain architecture as well as tangible memory of the country history, with strong connotations in the Bahrain cultural identity. The building has been documented employing several digital techniques, including: aerial (drone) and terrestrial photogrammetry, rectifying photography, total station and laser scanning. The documentation project has been developed for the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) by a multidisciplinary team of experts from Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS, Carleton University, Canada) and Gicarus Lab (Politecnico di Milano, Italy).

The Tin House Courtyard is a property of the National Capital Commission (NCC) in Ottawa, Canada. The site is located within the ‘Mile of History’, a historical route running from Parliament Hill to the Governor General’s residence. Currently, existing assets are under intervention works that include several preservation and renewal actions. Within the broader project, one of the tasks before construction works started was the documentation of the set of facades. The Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) at Carleton University in Ottawa was commissioned by NCC to conduct the recording of the area. This paper describes the process undertaken from field work to the final deliverable to the client, as well as the issues faced in between. Nowadays, up to date surveying technologies have revolutionized the methodologies for cultural heritage documentation. In this regard, the recording strategy employed encompassed the use of photogrammetry, laser scanner, total station, as well as different pre and post processing software in order to generate the desired outcomes.

The increasing commercialization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has opened the possibility of performing low-cost aerial image acquisition for the documentation of cultural heritage sites through UAV photogrammetry. This paper presents two case studies that illustrate the use of the DJI Phantom 4 normal UAV for aerial image acquisition, and the results that can be achieved using those images. A general workflow procedure of oblique image capturing and data processing of large data sets has been illustrated in the Prince of Wales Fort case study to create photogrammetric models and to generate orthophotos for condition assessment applications. The second case study provides insight on the possibility of using UAVs for post-disaster documentation when the accessibility and the availability of high cost equipment is of major concern. The results that were obtained from UAV photogrammetry of Nyatapola Temple and Bhairabnath Temple in Taumadhi Square in Nepal, which were damaged by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, are presented and discussed.

This contribution describes the results of an International workshop on documentation of historic and cultural heritage developed jointly between Universidad de Guadalajara’s Centro Universitario de Arte, Arquitectura y Diseño (CUAAD) and Carleton University’s Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Program. The objective of the workshop was to create a learning environment for emerging heritage professionals through the use of advanced recording techniques for the documentation of modern architectural heritage in Guadalajara, Mexico. The selected site was Casa Cristo, one of the several architectural projects by Luis Barragán in Guadalajara. The house was built between 1927 and 1929 for Gustavo R. Cristo, mayor of the city. The style of the building reflects the European influences derived from the architect’s travel experience, as well as the close connection with local craftsmanship. All of these make the house an outstanding example of modern regional architecture. A systematic documentation strategy was developed for the site, using different survey equipment and techniques to capture the shape, colour, spatial configuration, and current conditions of Casa Cristo for its eventual rehabilitation and conservation.

Presenting the outcomes of a capacity building activity, this contribution illustrates a replicable recording methodology to obtain timely, relevant and accurate information about conditions, materials and transformations of heritage structures. The purpose of the presented training activity consisted in developing local capabilities for the documentation of the built heritage at Bagan, Myanmar, employing different IT-supported techniques. Under the Director of UNESCO, the direct supervision of the chief of the culture unit, and in close consultation and cooperation with the Association of Myanmar Architects, the Department of Archaeology National Museum and Library (DoA) a documentation strategy has been developed in order to set up a recording methodology for the over three thousand Bagan monuments. The site, located in central Myanmar, in South East Asia, was developed between the IX and the XIII century as capital of the Myanmar kingdom. In the last years, this outstanding site has been exposed to an increasing number of natural hazards including earthquakes and flooding that strongly affected its built structures. Therefore, a documentation strategy to quickly capture shape, color, geometry and conditions of the monuments, in order to develop proper conservation projects, was needed. The scope of the training activity consisted in setting up a recording strategy updating the existing Bagan inventory, using three Buddhist temples as pilot cases study. The three documented temples were different in size, construction period, conditions and shape. The documentation included several IT-supported techniques including: Electronic Distance Measurements (EDM), SFM Photogrammetry, Laser Scanning, Record Photography as well as hand measurement and field notes. The monuments’ surveying has been developed in accordance with the guidelines and standards established by the ICOMOS International Committee for Documentation of Cultural Heritage (CIPA). Recommendations on how to extend the adopted methodology to the other Bagan monuments have been also elaborated.

Documenting the physical characteristics of historic structures is the first step for any preventive maintenance, monitoring, conservation, planning and promotion action. Metric documentation supports informative decision-making process for property owners, site managers, public officials, and conservators. This information serves also a broader purpose, over time, it becomes the primary means by which scholars, heritage professionals, and the general public understand a site that radically changed or disappeared. Further, documentation supports monitoring as well as the character-defining elements analysis, relevant to define the values of the building for the local and international community. The awareness of these concepts oriented the digital documentation and training activities, developed between 2016 and 2017, for the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) in Bahrain. The developed activities had two main aims: a) support the local staff in using specific recording techniques to efficiently document and consequently preserve built heritage sites with appropriate accuracy and in a relatively short period; b) develop a pilot project in collaboration with BACA to validate the capacity of the team to accurately document and produce measured records for the conservation and management of Bahrain built heritage. The documentation project has been developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts from BACA, Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS), Carleton University, Canada and a contracted researcher from the Gicarus Lab, Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) in Italy. In the training activities, the participants have been exposed to a wide range of recording techniques, illustrating them the selection criteria for the most suitable one, according to requirements, site specifications, categories of values identified for the various built elements, and budget. The pilot project has been tested on three historical structures, both with strong connotations in the Bahrain cultural identity: the Shaikh Isa bin Ali house, Aljazzaf house and the Siyadi Majlis. These two buildings, outstanding examples of Bahrain architecture as well as tangible memory of the country history, have been documented employing several digital techniques, including: aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, rectifying photography, total station and 3D laser scanning.

This paper presents an integrated approach between digital documentation workflows and historical research in order to document log houses, outstanding example of vernacular architecture in Quebec, focusing on their geometrical-dimensional as well as on the intangible elements associated with these historical structures. The 18 log houses selected in the Laurentians represent the material culture of how settlers adapted to the harsh Quebec environment at the end of the nineteenth century. The essay describes some results coming by professor Mariana Esponda in 2015 (Carleton University) and the digital documentation was carried out through the grant New Paradigm/New Tools for Architectural Heritage in Canada, supported by SSHRC Training Program) (May-August 2016). The workflow of the research started with the digital documentation, accomplished with laser scanning techniques, followed by onsite observations, and archival researches. This led to the creation of an 'abacus', a first step into the development of a territorialhistorical database of the log houses, potentially updatable by other researchers. Another important part of the documentation of these buildings has been the development of Historic Building Information Models fundamental to analyze the geometry of the logs and to understand how these constructions were built. The realization of HBIMs was a first step into the modeling of irregular shapes such as those of the logs – different Level of Detail were adopted in order to show how the models can be used for different purposes. In the future, they can potentially be used for the creation of a virtual tour app for the story telling of these buildings.

Nell’aggettivo nuovo, affiancato a scenari urbani, è possibile identificare la presenza di un secondo termine nascosto, ma che esprime ancor di più il significato di nuovo. Il termine celato è trasformazione la cui presenza si avverte nelle declinazioni che lo contraddistinguono: trasformazione dello spazio, trasformazione dell’ambiente, trasformazione della materia, trasformazione del paesaggio.

Le questioni poste nel saggio portano a considerare la dinamica contemporanea come il luogo d’elaborazione di un concetto interpretativo dell’architettura, intesa come servizio/funzione nei confronti delle mutevoli necessità dell’utenza, elemento di indirizzo strategico nella individuazione di proposte anche sostenibili. Un pretesto, questo, per parlare del progetto e spingersi oltre, anche solo di poco nel luogo ‘rassicurante’ depositario dell’identità, delle abitudini e delle emozioni negli “Interni” del nostro quotidiano.

Il Laboratorio Trasformazione e riuso dell’edilizia esistente è stato, come in ogni edizione del Seminario, luogo per interessanti riflessioni e dibattiti sulle proposte progettuali presentate dai partecipanti, sulle ricerche condotte e sugli argomenti di analisi e d’indagine trattati, sia in relazione al tema specifico del Laboratorio e sia a quello presentato dai relatori invitati al XXIII Seminario di Architettura e Cultura Urbana Nuovi Scenari Urbani. Opere Progetti Utopie. Dalla lettura dei progetti con lo scritto l'autore si è soffermato sull’esperienza del prof. Matteo Ieva del Politecnico di Bari, avviata all’interno della didattica del ‘Laboratorio di Progettazione Architettonica’ da lui tenuto, sulla progettazione per un Centro parrocchiale a Bisceglie ed ha tratteggiato un breve commento sull’opera realizzata da Michele Cornieti, Lorenzo Bianchini e Bruno Ruggieri, per il Cantiere dell’antica mulattiera di Corzano nel Comune di Bagno di Romagna (FC), realizzato dall’associazione di promozione sociale ‘Il Faro di Corzano’, il cui contesto, la morfologia del suolo, i raccordi e le connessioni funzionali fra le parti sono stati alcuni degli elementi che hanno caratterizzano la realizzazione vincitrice del Primo Premio di questa edizione del Seminario Internazionale di Camerino.