The paper explores two fortified systems, as case studies, to evaluate different modelling approaches, the parameterisation of architectural components, and semantic interpretation, to define a repeatable methodology for classifying, accessing, and sharing architectural information. The use of informational structures to categorise data and relations through semantic attributes addresses the need to make data queryable and interoperable. In architectural documentation, this practice opens up new perspectives for creating and sharing collaborative repositories, radically transforming the way of disseminating and accessing knowledge. Linking qualitative data information with 3D models enables the development of semantic structures that provide a deeper understanding of intrinsic characteristics, historical transformations of architectural complexes, and their cultural context. While databases effectively manage structured information and relationships between different signifiers, semantically enriched 3D modelling, through the management of surfaces or parameters, offers an accurate and flexible representation of each component. The evaluation of these case studies not only improves the ability to understand and appreciate built heritage but also provides new opportunities for researchers in architectural documentation and history. Semantic subdivision processes of built complexes into individual components facilitate the analysis and the digital preservation of heritage, enabling more precise interpretations and faithful reconstructions.

Moving beyond the limits of purely geometric or descriptive documentation, the study conceives the digital models as a structured information system capable of coherently and queryably organising both the formal-typological and the interpretative-historical dimensions of heritage. The methodology is developed within the framework of the European Horizon MSCA project Hephaestus, which investigates cross-border Cultural Heritage Routes (CHRs) and historic fortification systems in the Adriatic and Baltic basins. The paper focuses on Adriatic CHR, through the selection, organisation, and interrelation of a distributed corpus of fortified architectures, articulated according to historical phases, territorial clusters, typological classes, and multilevel relationships. The study adopts an approach centered on HBIM models and ontological frameworks, implemented through complementary top-down and bottom-up processes. The results show the possibility of structuring HBIM-derived data within an ontology-based framework capable of linking, within a single information system, architectural elements, fortified systems, and territorial entities across heterogeneous case studies. The application to differentiated contexts highlights the ability of the models to adapt to different scales and levels of complexity, supporting querying, comparison, and multi-level interpretation of heritage. The variety of sources and contexts enables the methodology to be tested across heterogeneous historical and typological scenarios, strengthening its applicability and robustness within a multiscalar information structure.

The paper presents an operational methodology based on the interaction between digital survey, point cloud segmentation, formal encoding, and parametric modelling, applied to three fortified portals associated with the work of Michele Sanmicheli and his cultural legacy. From photogrammetric and laser scanning surveys, the point clouds were subjected to macro- and micro-segmentation processes, to encode architectural types according to compositional and hierarchical logics. The subsequent parametric modelling is grounded in the abstraction of profiles and the construction of nested families within a BIM environment, encoded and structured according to the principles of Sanmichelian architecture. Through a systematic comparison between ideal models and surveyed reality, it was possible to adapt geometries to the specificities of the built elements, while preserving their original proportional rules. Integrating topologically complex meshes through visual programming techniques enabled the accurate representation of decorative features. The results highlight the potential of this operational methodology in constructing flexible, proportionally coherent information systems aligned with the architectural lexicon, offering new tools for documenting and enhancing fortified heritage.

This study outlines a methodological framework for architectural heritage documentation, grounded in integrating HBIM and ontologies. The applied case study is the portal of the Sant’Andrea Fortress in Venice, designed by Michele Sanmicheli, where a top-down approach is implemented. The process begins with the typological and lexical interpretation of the components, based on historical sources and architectural treatises, and proceeds to their formalisation into parametric families and digital schedules. The resulting idealised geometries are then compared with digital survey data, enabling a calibrated alignment between the theoretical model and the existing condition. This approach moves beyond mere geometric recording, transforming the HBIM model into a semantic infrastructure capable of ensuring terminological consistency, interoperability, and opportunities for reuse. The portal of Sant’Andrea Fortress stands as an emblematic yet replicable example, particularly in comparison with other portals related to Sanmicheli’s oeuvre, validating the construction of a comparative library of cases in support of research, conservation, and the enhancement of fortified heritage.

This research explores the use of fast-survey technologies and digital tools to document and preserve traditional earthen architecture, focusing on the Ksar of Tamnougalt in Morocco’s Drâa Valley as a case study. Situated along the historic Trans-Saharan trade route, this village holds significant historical and cultural significance despite its partial abandonment. In this context, the study aims to emphasize the importance of documenting and safeguarding this heritage, given the vulnerability of earthen materials to degradation and destruction. A detailed site survey was conducted using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) to capture both large-scale morphology and intricate architectural details. The resulting high-resolution, morphometrically rich database enabled the production of accurate 2D drawings, which facilitated detailed graphical analyses and a deeper understanding of the buildings and their components. The research explores techniques to represent traditional architecture's material quality and morphological complexity while preserving the metric reliability of traditional drawings, photogrammetric models, 3D point clouds, and models for innovative descriptive systems. This documentation process not only digitally preserves the architectural peculiarities and traditional building techniques of this historical site, but also provides a valuable resource for future research and conservation efforts. The study highlights the crucial role of digital technologies in heritage preservation, demonstrating the potential of fast-survey techniques in the documentation and management of vernacular earthen structures and contributing to broader discussions on heritage conservation and technological innovation.