The health assessment of strategic infrastructures and bridges represents a critical variable for planning appropriate maintenance operations. The high costs and complexity of traditional periodical monitoring with elevating platforms have driven the search for more efficient and flexible methods. Indeed, recent years have seen the growing diffusion and adoption of non-invasive approaches consisting in the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for applications that range from visual inspection with optical sensors to LiDAR technologies for rapid mapping of the territory. This study defines two different methodologies for bridge inspection. A first approach involving the integration of traditional topographic and GNSS techniques with TLS and photogrammetry with cameras mounted on UAV was compared with a UAV-LiDAR method based on the use of a DJI Matrice 300 equipped with a LiDAR DJI Zenmuse L1 sensor for a manual flight and an automatic one. While the first workflow resulted in a centimetric accurate but time-consuming model, the UAV-LiDAR resulting point cloud’s georeferencing accuracy resulted to be less accurate in the case of the manual flight under the bridge for GNSS signal obstruction. However, a photogrammetric model reconstruction phase made with Ground Control Points and photos taken by the L1-embedded camera improved the overall accuracy of the workflow, that could be employed for flexible low-cost mapping of bridges when medium level accuracy (5–10 cm) is accepted. In conclusion, a solution for integrating interactively final 3D products in a Bridge Management System environment is presented.

The rapid evolution of the urban landscape highlights the need to digitally document the state and historical transformations of heritage sites in densely urbanised areas through the combination of different geomatics survey approaches. Moreover, it is necessary to raise awareness of sites by developing strategies for their dissemination to a diverse audience through engaging, interactive, and accessible 3D web platforms. This work illustrates a methodology for the digital documentation and narration of a cultural heritage site through the implementation of a lightweight and replicable 3D navigation platform based on open-source technologies. Such a solution aims to be an easy-to-implement low-cost approach. The methodology is applied to the case study of the Farnese Castle in Piacenza (Italy), describing the data collection and documentation carried out with an in situ survey and illustrating how the resulting products were integrated into the web platform. The exploration functionalities of the platform and its potential for different types of audiences, from experts to users not familiar with 3D objects and geomatics products, were evaluated and documented on a ReadTheDocs website, allowing interested users to reproduce the project for other applications thanks to the template code available on GitHub.

In recent years, the digitalization and dissemination of historical heritage have become crucial nodes in the preservation and valorization of Cultural Heritage (CH). Technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and terrestrial photogrammetry, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and handheld Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) laser scanning allow the generation of digital models of architecture that can be explored through interactive web platforms, such as those based on WebGL graphic library. These are considered one of the most promising innovations for digitizing and sharing CH site due to their application in a wide range of contexts, promoting new forms of interaction with architecture at different scales. Additionally, the use of geomatic tools allows for a more complete 3D reconstruction and evaluation of the results by comparing different techniques. The article focuses on digitization as a tool for documenting and sharing CH assets, with the aim of developing a replicable prototype platform for an immersive Virtual Tour (VT) of an art collection and the architectural complex in which it is resided. In addition, this paper presents the results of a case study conducted at the Ricci Oddi Gallery of Modern Art in Piacenza, Italy. The source code of the implemented application is available on GitHub to permit replicability for other case studies.

Georeferenced reconstructions can help understand the dynamic evolution of the urban context surrounding a historical site, supporting decision-making processes in the field of urban planning. The development of web applications that allow the interaction between 2D and 3D products, as well as their exploration, can facilitate virtual inspections and foster collaboration in digitization of interventions and site evolutions over time. The article discusses how virtual scene reconstructions and visits can provide alternatives to traditional in-situ tourism promotion, through digital storytelling solutions for the exploration of sites. The article also describes how 3D storytelling technologies are currently being used for dissemination cultural heritage sites. The case study of the Castello Farnese, an old XVI century heritage site in Piacenza (Italy), test the adoption of two distinct free and open-source JavaScript WebGL, Potree and Cesium, for the rendering of photogrammetric and laser scanning georeferenced scaled products and for the integration of narrative features such as annotations, camera animations, texts, and other multimedia contents. Potentials and limitations of both tools are discussed in detail, highlighting how they can be implemented for enhancing user experience in virtual tour and exploration of 3D products. In order to guarantee replicability for other case studies, source code of the implemented application is shared on GitHub along with its documentation for contributions.

The orientation of crowdsourced and multi-temporal image datasets presents a challenging task for traditional photogrammetry. Indeed, traditional image matching approaches often struggle to find accurate and reliable tie points in images that appear significantly different from one another. In this paper, in order to preserve the memory of the Sycamore Gap tree, a symbol of Hadrian's Wall that was felled in an act of vandalism in September 2023, deep-learning-based features trained specifically on challenging image datasets were employed to overcome limitations of traditional matching approaches. We demonstrate how unordered crowdsourced images and UAV videos can be oriented and used for 3D reconstruction purposes, together with a recently acquired terrestrial laser scanner point cloud for scaling and referencing. This allows the memory of the Sycamore Gap tree to live on and exhibits the potential of photogrammetric AI (Artificial Intelligence) for reverse engineering lost heritage.

In response to the increasing demand for effective bridge management and the shortcomings of current proprietary solutions, this work presents an open-source, web-based platform designed to support bridge inspection and data management, particularly for small and medium-sized public administrations, which often lack personnel or funding for implementing context-specific tools. The system addresses fragmented workflows by integrating multi-format geospatial and 3D data—such as point clouds, CAD/BIM models, and georeferenced imagery—within a unified, modular architecture. The platform enables structured inventory, interactive 2D/3D visualization, defect annotation, and role-based user interaction, aligning with FAIR principles and interoperability standards. Built entirely with free and open-source tools, the P.O.N.T.I. prototype ensures scalability, transparency, and adaptability. A multi-layer navigation interface guides users through asset exploration, inspection history, and immersive 3D viewers. Fully documented and publicly available on GitHub, the system allows for deployment across varying institutional contexts. The platform’s design anticipates future developments, including integration with IoT monitoring systems, AI-driven inspection tools, and chatbot interfaces for natural language querying. By overcoming existing proprietary limitations and providing access to a versatile single space, the proposed solution supports decision-makers in the digital transition towards a more accessible, transparent and integrated infrastructure asset management.