This paper examines the survey of tall buildings in an emergency context like in the case of post-seismic events. The after-earthquake survey has to guarantee time-savings, high precision and security during the operational stages. The main goal is to optimize the application of methodologies based on acquisition and automatic elaborations of photogrammetric data even with the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems in order to provide fast and low cost operations. The suggested methods integrate new technologies with commonly used technologies like TLS and topographic acquisition. The value of the photogrammetric application is demonstrated by a test case, based on the comparison of acquisition, calibration and 3D modeling results in case of use of a laser scanner, metric camera and amateur reflex camera. The test would help us to demonstrate the efficiency of image based methods in the acquisition of complex architecture. The case study is Santa Barbara Bell tower in Mantua. The applied survey solution allows a complete 3D database of the complex architectural structure to be obtained for the extraction of all the information needed for significant intervention. This demonstrates the applicability of the photogrammetry using UAV for the survey of vertical structures, complex buildings and difficult accessible architectural parts, providing high precision results.

The preservation of cultural heritage through education and training has always been a relevant issue and, sure enough, can contribute to the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 (e.g., 4: Quality education, 8: Decent work and economic growth, 11: Sustainable cities and communities). The pandemic experience substantially influenced this topic for two key reasons. First, it has revolutionized the approach to teaching and learning activities, involving technological and digital innovations in this area for extreme and urgent necessities. The second aspect is that it has encouraged the rediscovery of minor heritages closer to one’s own territorial identity, strengthening the link with the local community. Understanding the role and importance of cultural heritage begins in the school; therefore, education is an essential and indispensable stage. At all educational levels, beginning with primary school, the necessary training activities for specific professional figures should be implemented. The transformation related to the cultural heritage professional figure must include both awareness of heritage value and excellent practical and theoretical skills. The research presented focuses on proposing new training paradigms that are highly professionalizing and involving.

The paper presents the first part of a research project concerning the creation of 3D terrain models useful to understand landslide movements. Thus, it illustrates the creation process of a multi-source high-resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM) in very dense vegetated areas obtained by integrating 3D data coming from three sources, starting from long and medium-range Terrestrial Laser Scanner up to a Backpack Indoor Mobile Mapping System. The point clouds are georeferenced by means of RKT GNSS points and automatically filtered using a Cloth Simulation Filter algorithm to separate points belonging to the ground. Those points are interpolated to produce the DTMs which are then mosaicked to obtain a unique multi-resolution DTM that plays a crucial role in the detection and identification of specific geological features otherwise visible. Standard deviation of residuals of the DTM varies from 0.105 m to 0.176 m for Z coordinate, from 0.065 m to 0.300 m for X and from 0.034 m to 0.175 m for Y. The area under investigation belongs to the Municipality of Piuro (SO) and includes both the town and surrounding valley. It was affected by a dramatic landslide in 1618 that destroyed the entire village. Numerous challenges have been faced, caused both by the characteristics of the area and the processed data. The complexity of the case study turns out to be an excellent test bench for the employed technologies, providing the opportunity to precisely identify the needed direction to obtain future promising results.

The increasing request for digitized data among several fields, including the built environment and cultural heritage (CH), highlights the need for proficient ways to access, archive, and share 3D data and related information among users. The sector of reality capture produces accurate and reliable products that can support building management and CH maintenance, at the price of heavy and resource-demanding data. An emerging solution to this problem is represented by the web platforms for 3D data management, that promise to relieve users from the costs of archive and hardware, providing effective visualization, access and sharing tools. The panorama of commercial web platforms is analyzed according to the Software-as-a-Service business model, and the features of some representative platforms are exposed. The paper discusses the main advantages of diffused access and collaboration and the potential issues concerning long-term archival and data persistence. It provides a general overview of the main available platforms and describes their main features, comparing their specific pros and cons according to their category. The future perspectives of the web platform sector are promising as, according to the current development path, they may be able to empower built environments and the CH sector with a diffused, systematic, and conscious use of 3D data.

This paper presents a comprehensive scoping review of the application of 3D digital technologies in the documentation, conservation, and management of historic gardens and related cultural heritage. By analyzing a curated selection of literature, this study assessed the current state of research, highlighting trends in publications, the geographic distribution of contributors, and the key technologies employed. Using bibliometric methods and visualization tools, followed by a case study review, this review identified significant research hotspots and technical methodologies, particularly focusing on advanced techniques such as mobile laser scanning, UAV photogrammetry, and point cloud processing and their relationships with end users. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating multiple technologies to capture the diverse elements of historic gardens, including architectural features, vegetation, and topography. This review also underscores the significance of dynamic landscapes facing challenges posed by environmental degradation and urban development pressures. Moreover, it discusses the limitations of existing research and outlines future opportunities, such as the development of 4D documentation systems and the incorporation of AI for improving heritage management. This paper concludes by recommending interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement to enhance the accessibility, understanding, and sustainable management of historic gardens through innovative technological applications.