Cettina Santagati

From structure from motion to historical building information modeling: populating a semantic-aware library of architectural elements

Abstract. In recent years, we have witnessed a huge diffusion of building information modeling (BIM) approaches in the field of architectural design, although very little research has been undertaken to explore the value, criticalities, and advantages attributable to the application of these methodologies in the cultural heritage domain. Furthermore, the last developments in digital photogrammetry lead to the easy generation of reliable low-cost three-dimensional textured models that could be used in BIM platforms to create semantic-aware objects that could compose a specific library of historical architectural elements. In this case, the transfer between the point cloud and its corresponding parametric model is not so trivial and the level of geometrical abstraction could not be suitable with the scope of the BIM. The aim of this paper is to explore and retrace the milestone works on this crucial topic in order to identify the unsolved issues and to propose and test a unique and simple workflow practitioner centered and based on the use of the latest available solutions for point cloud managing into commercial BIM platforms.

The catacombs of san giovanni in syracuse: surveying, digital enhancement and revitalization of an archaeological landmark

This study is a cross-disciplinary research carried out by archaeologists, engineers and architects aimed at the knowledge and enhancement of the San Giovanni catacombs complex in Syracuse. The study uses the most innovative 3D surveying and virtual reproduction technologies and methodologies in order to broaden the understanding of the archaeological sites most peculiar features. The digital 3D models of the rooms studied here can be used to enhance the visiting experience and the online presence of the archaeological complex.

Crowdsourcing Cultural Heritage: From 3D Modeling to the Engagement of Young Generations

Monitoring, digitizing and archiving museum artworks represent an important socio-cultural accomplishment and an overcoming in digital preservation today. Cultural heritage is constantly under threat of terrorist attacks and natural disaster. The high costs related to documentation task have prevented a constantly and massive survey activity. The low cost 3D image based acquisition and elaboration techniques of an object, allow to carry out a 3D photorealistic model in a short time. Therefore, a lot of museum adopted these techniques for the artworks archiving. Crowdsourcing activities can significantly speed up survey and elaboration procedures. If, on the one hand, these initiatives can have a positive impact, on the other hand involve the online user with a marginal role. In this paper we demonstrate how it is appropriate thinking the museum visitor as “museum operator/maker” of the digital model overstepping the outcomes achieved so far.

Digital Reconstruction of Archaeological Sites and Monuments: Some Experiences in South-Eastern Sicily

Over the past few years, technological innovation has contributed to the development of the methodology to acquire, analyse, use and convey information about cultural heritage. Among all the possible methods for acquiring data, those related to 3D laser scanners (Time of flight or structured light) stand out. By using these technologies it is possible to sample, in a short time and with great accuracy, millions of points from real world objects obtaining a detailed 3D representation. This study presents the results of research carried out on archaeological sites and monuments of South-Eastern Sicily. The case studies presented belong to different type sites and they have been dealt with using methodological approaches chosen for the specific purposes of the study (restoration and conservation project, 3D reconstruction and visualisation, 3D documentation). The comparison between the different case studies might be the starting point for a new standardisation of digital representation of archaeological heritage objects and new methodological procedures.

Cultural Heritage Documentation, Analysis and Management Using Building Information Modelling: State of the Art and Perspectives

This chapter presents current issues relating to the use of a building information modelling (BIM) approach in the field of cultural heritage, which is better known as historic-BIM (H-BIM). Technological innovation in the field of automatic metric data acquisition (e.g., 3D laser scanning, digital photogrammetry techniques) requires data processing to produce a coherent parametric model that is congruent with metric survey information. Working with historical artefacts, this process becomes very complex, because the existing tools used to support BIM methodologies are mainly oriented towards new design interventions. From this perspective, the aim of our research is to explore the state of the art of current data acquisition techniques and their integration to obtain a master model, which is defined in the literature as an “inventory BIM model”. We will analyse the different scan-to-BIM approaches aimed at creating building object model (BOM) components that, using different acquisition techniques to obtain geometric data, allow the user to define the level of accuracy with which they are generated; in addition, the integrated development of new technologies for existing management (in terms of data enrichment of non-geometric information) will be analysed. Future research perspectives in this field are directed toward the design of a mechatronic system that optimizes computing systems, thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire process, and making use of a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge in order to arrange a hierarchy of knowledge that can be shared with other professionals involved in interventions for the protection of cultural heritage.

Low cost handheld 3D scanning for architectural elements acquisition

3D scanning has gone a long way since its first appearance in cultural heritage digitization and modeling. In the recent years some new low cost, fast, accurate emerging technologies are flooding the market. Envisioning the massive use of these cheap and easy to use devices in the next years, it is crucial to explore the possible fields of application and to test their effectiveness in terms of easiness of 3D data collection, processing, mesh resolution and metric accuracy against the size and features of the objects. In this study we focus the attention on one emerging technology, the Structure Sensor device, in order to verify a 3D pipeline acquisition on an architectural element and its details. The methodological approach is thought to define a pipeline of 3D acquisition exploiting low cost and open source technologies and foresees the assessment of this procedure in comparison with data obtained by a Time of Flight device.

From SfM to Semantic-Aware BIM Objects of Architectural Elements

The huge diffusion of Building Information Modeling approaches in the field of architectural design has characterized the research of the last decades; however very little research has been undertaken to explore the advantages and criticalities of BIM methodologies in Cultural Heritage domain. Moreover, the last developments in digital photogrammetry lead to easily generate reliable low cost 3D textured models, that can be used to create semantic-aware objects of reusable library of historical architectural elements. The aim is to test a novel workflow practitioner centered, based on the use of the latest solutions for point cloud managing into BIM.

Multidisciplinary Investigations on the Byzantine Oratory of the Catacombs of Saint Lucia in Syracuse

This paper presents the outcomes of a multidisciplinary study conducted on the fresco palimpsest of the byzantine oratory (region C) of the Catacombs of Saint Lucia in Syracuse. The 3D model was integrated with data from investigations made with portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (pXRF), and Technical Photography (TP), in order to obtain a unified representation of the knowledge acquired. The different layers of the frescoes present in the palimpsest could then be individually identified and characterized using the data extracted from the model. The arcosolium examined here is an illustrative case study characterized by clear artistic and archaeological stratifications.

Visualizing the invisible: Digital restitution from an integrated archaeological, remote sensing, and geophysical research of a late Roman villa in Durres (Albania)

Paper focused on the first results of a joint geo-archaeological research project of urban archeology in the ancient Roman city of Durres. Starting from the reading of the historical evidence and interpretation of archival records (i.e. aerial photos related to the twenties, thirties and forties years of last century, before the urban transformations between the two World Wars and later, and satellite images of the sixties and recent years) the research proposes to develop targeted investigations with the integrated use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method and image processing techniques of contemporary photographs in order to locate a late Roman villa. All the information provided by aerial and GPR analysis as well as literature references constituted the basis for attempting a virtual reconstruction of the lost Romans villa in order to give the visual idea of how it probably was. Accordingly to London and Seville Charter principles, different levels of reliability in data interpretation have been identified and characterized aiming at making transparent the methodological choices and the accuracy of reconstruction undertaken.

Heritage and Places: Rediscovering and Enhancing Cultural Identities Lost Under 1669 Mount Etna Lava Flow

The paper describes the research process and methodology adopted in the study of a complex place which was buried under the 1669 mount Etna lava flow and has been brought to light in the last years. The site has an ecceptional value: it represents one of the few architectural memories of the etnean area that survived both the great eruption (1669) and the disastrous earthquake (1693). The complexity of the place requires a holistic approach that takes advantage of Surveying and Drawing disciplines as knowledge and investigation tools for the understanding of the site and the architectural text according to several analysis and points of view (metrical survey, building techniques analysis, history of art and architecture, graphical and metrical analysis) in order to give back to the scientific and local community a fundamental lacking tile of the past.