In order to improve the framework for 3D modeling, a great challenge is to obtain the suitability of Building Information Model (BIM) platform for historical architecture. A specific challenge in HBIM is to guarantee appropriateness of geometrical accuracy. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of a whole HBIM approach for complex architectural shapes, starting from TLS point clouds. A novelty of our method is to work in a 3D environment throughout the process and to develop semantics during the construction phase. This last feature of HBIM was analyzed in the present work verifying the studied ontologies, enabling the data enrichment of the model with non-geometrical information, such as historical notes, decay or deformation evidence, decorative elements etc. The case study is the Church of Santa Maria at Portonovo, an abbey from the Romanesque period. Irregular or complex historical architecture, such as Romanesque, needs the construction of shared libraries starting from the survey of its already existing elements. This is another key aspect in delivering Building Information Modeling standards. In particular, we focus on the quality assessment of the obtained model, using an open-source sw and the point cloud as reference. The proposed work shows how it is possible to develop a high quality 3D model semantic-aware, capable of connecting geometrical-historical survey with descriptive thematic databases. In this way, a centralized HBIM will serve as comprehensive dataset of information about all disciplines, particularly for restoration and conservation. Moreover, the geometric accuracy will ensure also reliable visualization outputs.

The development of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) focuses (among other uses) on the adaptation of the BIM methodology to the historical building’s features, as well as on increasing geometric accuracy and on model data enrichment. Regarding the first issue, it can be underlined, on the one hand, that historical buildings are the result of a sequence of transformations that take place throughout their whole history; they cannot be considered as unitary objects that have been created in a single moment. Therefore, they have a temporal sequence which can be understood as the essence of their evolving nature. On the other hand, historical architecture has different construction materials and techniques, with other kinds of features and pathological processes that are quite different from those of contemporary buildings. In this line, this study proposes a new workflow that allows outlining new criteria that include both the temporal sequence and the constructive features of historical buildings. For this purpose, the case study of the Real Colegiata of San Isidoro in León (Spain) has been considered. In order to create the model, several modelling strategies have been used to compare both the results and the time spent in this task. Then, the model has been divided into several parts, both in terms of constructive criteria and temporal stratification, and thus, the database and the implemented information have been organized following such essential aspects of the historical building. Finally, to provide an advanced and more efficient use of the information, customized queries have been created using Dynamo, allowing searching with combined criteria and the isolation and visualization of the resulting elements. This could be helpful for both research and conservation and management activities.Highlights:A comparison of modelling strategies applied to historical buildings taking into consideration their singularities and estimation of required times and benefits.The division and taxonomy of the model to incorporate both the temporal sequence and the constructive aspects, allowing enrichment of the HBIM model with customized parameters.The development of queries generated in Dynamo to allow customized and combined searches of data, optimizing the use of the database.

Digitization of Cultural and Museum Heritage represents one of the most engaging challenges that would ensure a sustainable and ethical approach for next generations; digital technology’s pervasiveness imposes a comprehensive management of architectural heritage by producing facsimiles of buildings and artworks and by testing robust methodologies, with the final result of providing effective multipurpose models. In this context, the main goal of the present paper is to develop a semantically aware HBIM model that includes an intelligent objects parametrization, leveraging Extended Reality (XR) technologies and digital curation of contents to pursue the preservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) as a whole. This research is implemented in the case study of the Ducal Palace of Urbino that houses the National Gallery of Marche. It was chosen as a remarkable example of a museum located in an architectural complex with a relevant historical background and fine detail of shapes and mouldings. In Italy, as in other European scenarios, museums and their collections need suitable dissemination and management systems that take advantage of the recent digital paradigms. The challenging approach is to exploit existing platforms and software and to adopt a cognitive modelling process, able to develop tools supporting managers and museum curators while enabling user experiences using immersive and interactive features. In order to stress the workflow, this work proposes the use of families with high Level of Detail (LOD) and high Level of Information (LOI). The present article provides, as well, an accurate data enrichment process specifically designed for a gallery’s artworks such as paintings and sculptures, in line with the national and international policies. The study presents a robust and reproducible methodology for digital musealization and management, focusing, as future overall objectives, towards a greater merging between the HBIM approach and XR technologies, also facilitated by training new professional figures with more in-depth digital skills.

This paper presents results of a research project dUcale that experiments ICT solutions for the museum of Palazzo Ducale (Urbino). In this project, the famed painting the Città Ideale becomes a case to exemplify a specific approach to the digital mediation of cultural heritage. An augmented reality (AR) mobile application, able to enhance the museum visit experience, is presented. The computing technologies involved in the project (websites, desktop and social applications, mobile software, and AR) constitute a persuasive environment for the artwork knowledge. The overall goal of our research is to provide to cultural institutions best practices efficiently on low budgets. Therefore, we present a low cost method for high-resolution acquisition of paintings; the image is used as a base in AR approach. The proposed methodology consists of an improved SIFT extractor for real time image. The other novelty of this work is the multipoint probabilistic layer. Experimental results demonstrated the robustness of the proposed approach with extensive use of the AR application in front of the Città Ideale painting. To prove the usability of the application and to ensure a good user experience, we also carried out several users tests in the real scenario.