This paper describes an innovative, accessible, and sustainable method for enhancing cultural heritage. Documenting and disseminating the public works heritage have now come of age, digitally speaking, with the adoption of new technologies both to further research on and heighten the esteem attributed to the public works heritage. Nonetheless, academic discourse rarely describes procedures for the 3D digitisation of heritage works comprehensible to non-expert readers with limited resources. Taking that premise as a starting point, with special attention to the determinants of the public works heritage, this article aims to define the general, open-source methodology covering 3D model data capture, information processing and optimisation. The article also discusses model dissemination strategies using free platforms and low-cost tools. The general discussion is illustrated with the case study of Ariza Bridge in Spain. This Renaissance-style structure dates from the second half of the sixteenth century. Despite its listing as a cultural heritage asset, the monument was flooded by the Giribaile reservoir waters in 1998 and is now only wholly visible during droughts. The application, developed with open-source software and implemented with free platforms and low-cost tools, features geo-referencing and is designed to be accessible to non-expert users. The methodology proposed is intended as a suitable instrument for the sustainable study, valorisation and dissemination of the built heritage.

Public works’ relationship with the landscape should be among the factors addressed in heritage studies. Their association with place defines their purpose while contributing to the construction of the cultural landscape. Unawareness of the existence of public works is their most powerful enemy. Inventorying and cataloguing are therefore imperative in any study of these assets. The research described here drew from information technologies to develop cost-free mobile apps in an innovative approach to dissemination with the aim to enhance public awareness of and esteem for such elements. The applications described, which are all author-developed and designed to promote Spain’s heritage public works, address the heritage value of rural public works (VAPROP_Rutas), geolocation of the built heritage (GEOPACK), heritage public works on the River Duero (PHDuero), major works of engineering (GOING) and geolocation of Eduardo Torroja’s public works (underway). All these applications build on the geo-positioning features of mobile handsets and are characterised by simple and intuitive interfaces for ready accessibility by the public at large. Users may participate in the experience by entering useful information, new content and suggestions. These apps deploy the latest technologies to enhance the understanding and appreciation of civil works by explaining their territorial, social and cultural significance.

The historic water supply to large cities constitutes a constructed heritage characterised by comprising a range of public structures—dams, canals, tanks, siphons and aqueducts—over a large geographical area. Within this international context, this paper looks at the case of Canal de Isabel II (CYII) and its historic infrastructure, built in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The purpose of this study is to analyse how these water supply public works, which maintain their original use, have also taken on new functions through the conversion of some of their parts and added new values to the existing ones. In order to do this, an inventory was drawn up with the location and cultural value of each structure based on its historic, technological, landscape and symbolic features, as well as its use. The results establish the significance of the overall system, not only in functional terms but also as a cultural resource. It is essential to understand the historic water supply infrastructure as a whole, not just as individual components but rather as pieces of a network. This is also essential for the management and preservation of the system, both where the structures are still in use as part of the water supply and where they have been converted for other uses.

Madrid’s bridges trace a path through the evolution of construction technologies over the past five centuries. Since Madrid became the capital of Spain in the sixteenth century, bridges have taken centre stage in the growth of the city. Firstly, they crossed its rivers; later, they crossed other obstacles and connecting routes. Over time, they display a succession of materials, types and technological solutions. They include unique works and key historical figures in the history of construction. The authors propose a chronological analysis of materials and techniques: masonry bridges, iron bridges, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, composite bridges and modern designs. Studying them from a technological point of view offers a previously unseen view of their major significance in heritage. The individual value of each one is added to the overall historical and cultural value. This paper helps highlight the individual and collective relevance of Madrid’s bridges, and it is also a chance to take a look back over the technical development of bridge engineering up to the present day.

Los puentes no son sólo estructuras funcionales; casi siempre asumen valores sociales y culturales. Este hecho se percibe con mayor intensidad en los puentes urbanos. Se estudia aquí la vinculación de estos puentes del municipio de Madrid con la ciudadanía y la vida social, y su presencia en diferentes expresiones culturales desde el siglo XVI hasta la actualidad. Desde los más antiguos puentes sobre el Manzanares hasta los más modernos de la periferia, pasando por los urbanos, las Rondas y la M-30, se realiza un recorrido por sus apariciones más relevantes en la literatura, la pintura y el cine, así como por su actual valor y significación social para los madrileños. Los puentes de Madrid construyen sociedad y son cultura.