In the context of source-based virtual reconstructions and its underlying decision-making processes (paradata), there has been a long-time demand for documenting why a reconstruction was executed in a certain way, and presenting it in a comprehensible and public manner. Lacking documentation leads to a loss of knowledge and that the scientific nature of a reconstruction won’t be guaranteed anymore. Based on earlier prototypes, TU Darmstadt and HTW Dresden developed IDOVIR (Infrastructure for Documentation of Virtual Reconstructions) which enables the documentation of this kind of paradata and metadata, and, at the same time, supports communication during the reconstruction phase. The tool can be used free of charge and independently by registering via ORCID. The core of IDOVIR is the division of an entity into different spatial areas and time periods to which multiple variants can be assigned. Each variant contains the triple of 1) the representation of the reconstruction (2D or 3D), 2) the sources used, and 3) a textual argumentation that explains how the reconstruction has been inferred from the sources. For long-term storage and availability, IDOVIR is hosted by the University and State Library Darmstadt.

Source-based virtual reconstructions have become essential tools for communication and research in urban and architectural studies. While these reconstructions are often showcased through exhibition visualizations, the underlying knowledge is not always apparent or even documented. This raises concerns about their sustainability. Without transparent, publicly accessible documentation of the decision-making processes (known as paradata) that come with and support these digital reconstructions, there is a risk of losing both the knowledge embedded in them and their potential scientific value. To enhance transparency and allow for proper assessment and recognition of these reconstructions, thorough documentation and evaluation of the reconstruction processes are crucial. Although there are various approaches to documenting virtual reconstructions tailored to specific use cases, and while some focus on aspects like visualizing reliability, the overall process of documentation remains cumbersome and costly, making it an exception rather than the norm. Previous tools that claim to properly document virtual reconstructions either cover only part of the metadata and linked sources, are too complicated to use, or are no longer available. Currently, there is no universally accepted, straightforward, and easy-to-use workflow for this purpose. The IDOVIR project addresses this gap by offering a user-friendly, web-based platform designed specifically for documenting digital architectural reconstructions. We strive for achieving such a standardized workflow. To date, the platform has already been adopted by a large number of users, and many projects are publicly accessible.

Zusammenfassung: TOPORAZ ist eine virtuelle Forschungsumgebung, die ein wissenschaftlich fundiertes 3D-Modell des Hauptmarktes der Stadt Nürnberg in vier Zeitstufen mit einer Datenbank verknüpft. Diese Plattform für die objekt- und raumbezogene geisteswissenschaftliche Forschung verbindet vielfältige Quellen und Literatur mit den Gebäuden des 3D-Modells über Verknüpfungspunkte (Hotspots). TOPORAZ unterstützt übergreifende Forschungsansätze und vernetztes, transdisziplinäres Arbeiten.

Virtual architectural reconstructions have been developed for nearly four decades now, with the London Charter providing a framework for their scholarly use, particularly emphasising the need for transparent and evaluable documentation. Despite this, documentation remains uncommon due to the absence of binding standards, limited incentives, and the considerable effort required. Crucially, experience shows that documentation cannot realistically be produced retrospectively and must be created alongside with the reconstruction process. To address this gap, IDOVIR, a platform supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), aims to streamline documentation workflows and improve communication among researchers by providing an efficient, web-based framework for recording and sharing information. More than ten years of experience with such approaches have both refined existing methods and highlighted the need for broader standardisation. The community is increasingly seeking to define general principles, criteria, and best practices for high-quality documentation beyond project-specific solutions. This paper contributes to that effort by outlining key requirements, proposing structural guidelines, and compiling relevant source types for reconstructions, with the goal of fostering consensus and improving the transparency, understanding, and evaluation of virtual reconstruction projects. With our proposal, we want to intensify the necessary communication process in the community to establish coordinated standardisation, which is lacking at the moment.