In this paper, we want to propose an investigation and a re-reading of the “Conventazzo” of San Pietro di Deca in Torrenova (ME), through the use of geomatics techniques (laser scanner, UAV—Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-photogrammetry and BIM—Building Information Modeling) and a reconstruction and representation of different morpho-typological phases that highlight the numerous changes that this structure has undergone over the years. Particular attention was given to the BIM/HBIM (Heritage BIM) construction, bearing in mind that, in particular, the use of HBIM software for cultural heritage cannot perfectly represent old buildings with complex notable and particularly detailed architecture. Specifically, a new methodology is presented in order to replicate the complex details found in antique buildings, through the direct insertion of various 3D model parts (.obj) (point cloud segmentation from laser scanner and UAV/photogrammetry survey) into a BIM environment that includes intelligent objects linked to form the smart model. By having a huge amount of information available in a single digital model (HBIM), and by including all the information acquired during the survey campaign, it is possible to study the morphotypological evolutions of the building without the need to carry out subsequent survey campaigns. The limit of the proposed methodology, compared to the most used methodologies (despite the good results obtained), is that it requires the use of many types of software and is very slow. The proposed methodology was put to the test on the reconstruction of the “Conventazzo” in San Pietro di Deca, Torrenova (Messina).

Nowadays, a great interest in historical installations like museographic devices in international museological studies (capable of giving space form during user communication) is largely attributable to new techniques of immediate communication. Tools and libraries for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality content have recently become increasingly available. Despite its increased cost and investment, these are new ways for increasing visitor presence in museums. The purpose of this paper is to describe the potential of a tourist/archaeological application suitably developed and implemented by us. The application was developed in Unity3D and allows the user to view cultural heritage in a virtual environment, making information, multimedia content, and metrically precise 3D models available and accessible (obtained after a phase of reducing the mesh border), useful for obtaining good 3D printing reproduction. The strengths of our application (compared to the many already in the literature, which are also used as research ideas) stem from the possibility of using and easily integrating different techniques (3D models, building information models, virtual and augmented reality) allowing the choice of different 3D models (depending on the user’s needs) on some of which (again depending on the application needs) were tested and performed simplification and size reduction processes, to make the application loading phase faster and the user experience easier and better. Another application cue was to finalize an application to relate the elements of the museum with some archaeological elements of the territory according to historical period and element type.

Three-dimensional digital acquisition techniques can be useful in archaeology because they make a further technological contribution to the visualization of finds and structures. The possibility of integrating three-dimensional models from different acquisition systems (laser scanner, UAV, reflex and Georadar) is even more exciting. One of the peculiarities of these integration techniques is the possibility of promoting the dissemination of knowledge through virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, given the widespread use of mobile devices. This does not mean, of course, that with the mere creation of a 3D model (and allowing it to be viewed in 3D), the public automatically obtains more information about heritage. In fact, visiting a cultural heritage site in person allows one to receive much more information on finds and structures. However, if this is not possible, technologies that use 3D Virtual Reality help to provide a small knowledge base to those who cannot use the museum. We underline the importance of an integrated visualization from an archaeological and architectural perspective to obtain understanding of the structure with the integration of the two models with different data. The work that we present is part of a multidisciplinary project to recover and disseminate information about the Reggio Calabria’s (southern Italy) artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage. This work’s goal is the realization of a unique 3D model of the church “Madonna dei Poveri” (3D model of a buried part with 3D model of visible parts) by combining different geomatics techniques to show and investigate the interior and exterior parts (3D model obtained by laser scanner and photogrammetry), and the underground crypts (3D model obtained by Georadar), which are lying below the present surface and are no longer accessible due to coverage by post-depositional processes (Georadar). Finally, an app (using augmented reality and virtual reality) and a first experimentation of Mixed Reality is developed for the dissemination of the archaeological and cultural heritage information on the area of interest.

Relevant cultural heritage buildings have been subject to numerous maintenance interventions over the years. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is already part of the construction industry especially in the design phase and is considered as a very useful tool. From a survey with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), using photogrammetry is possible to determine characteristics such as sizes and shape object, volumes, areas, distances, elevations and furthermore the reconstruction of high-quality model. A whole integration between the two methods will be a “game changer” for the construction sector. Moreover, old buildings have complex architecture, with high and particular details that today's BIM software’s aren’t able to perfectly represent today.In this paper, we present a methodology to integrate into BIM environment a 3D reconstruction as-built drawings of an old church using photogrammetric techniques, in order to find a solution to reproduce the complex details present in ancient buildings.

On 21 and 22 August 1972, a young diver near the coast of Riace Marina (South Italy) found two bronze statues representing one of the highest moments of the sculptural production and the most important archaeological discovery of the last century: the Riace Bronzes. The Geomatics Laboratory of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria sets a goal to relive and re-propose the experience of a real immersion and the exciting moment of the discovery: an immersive journey in the interest of interactivity in virtual reality. Immersive Virtual Reality tries to combine the real and the virtual world, even involving our senses. In other words, it allows us to enter into the scenery like the virtual reality one, but without being just simple spectators. We become protagonists and we can participate and decide what to do and how to do it. Unity 3D is the multi-platform development environment used. The scenarios and the objects included in the scene from three-dimensional models were realized through photogrammetric techniques (seabed and bronzes). Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have been widely used in recent times by researchers to explore underwater environments, both in shallow and deep water, for different types of studies. The seabed was detected through the aid of an experimental ROV (realized in a broader project of agreement with the IPCF CNR Messina). The use of a grid of known dimensions assisted the ROV’s use in order to correct the effects of distortion effects obtained in water. The proposed app is still being perfected and completed.

BIM is a methodology applied to the realization of design models applied to new buildings. To date,however, most of the building interventions as it happens in the field of cultural heritage are developed in theexisting. For this reason, scan to BIM procedures are improved and improved every day to make the use ofBIM easier. This document will describe the combination of different geomatics techniques used by theGeomatics Laboratory of the University of the Mediterranean in Reggio Calabria to create a BuildingInformation Model of a highway viaduct (infraBIM). In particular, we paid more attention to the scan to BIMphase through the segmentation of the point cloud using machine learning techniques that allow to obtain theconstitutive parametric elements of the 3D model. The model containing the geometric and physical data madeavailable by the ANAS management body in order to use the potential of infraBIM. This methodology today isof particular importance for the control, monitoring, intervention, and maintenance of road infrastructures,optimizing the procedures existing up to now. The advantages would be even more evident considering that weare living in a particular historical moment, in which a large number of bridges and viaducts in our nation aresubject to advanced forms of degradation