This paper presents an efficient solution, based on a wearable mobile laser system (WMLS), for the digitalization and modelling of a complex cultural heritage building. A procedural pipeline is formalized for the data acquisition, processing and generation of cartographic products over a XV century palace located in Segovia, Spain. The complexity, represented by an intricate interior space and by the presence of important structural problems, prevents the use of standard protocols such as those based on terrestrial photogrammetry or terrestrial laser scanning, making the WMLS the most suitable and powerful solution for the design of restoration actions. The results obtained corroborate with the robustness and accuracy of the digitalization strategy, allowing for the generation of 3D models and 2D cartographic products with the required level of quality and time needed to digitalize the area by a terrestrial laser scanner.
This research focuses on the study of the ruins of a large building known as “El Torreón” (the Tower), belonging to the Ulaca oppidum (Solosancho, Province of Ávila, Spain). Different remote sensing and geophysical approaches have been used to fulfil this objective, providing a better understanding of the building’s functionality in this town, which belongs to the Late Iron Age (ca. 300–50 BCE). In this sense, the outer limits of the ruins have been identified using photogrammetry and convergent drone flights. An additional drone flight was conducted in the surrounding area to find additional data that could be used for more global interpretations. Magnetometry was used to analyze the underground bedrock structure and ground penetrating radar (GPR) was employed to evaluate the internal layout of the ruins. The combination of these digital methodologies (surface and underground) has provided a new perspective for the improved interpretation of “El Torreón” and its characteristics. Research of this type presents additional guidelines for better understanding of the role of this structure with regards to other buildings in the Ulaca oppidum. The results of these studies will additionally allow archaeologists to better plan future interventions while presenting new data that can be used for the interpretation of this archaeological complex on a larger scale.
This study presents a practical methodology for integrating the multiscale spatial information of archaeological sites by combining Geographic Information Systems (GISs) with Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM). The methodology categorises and integrates data based on its type and geometric scale, leveraging advanced 3D surveying techniques alongside semantic and parametric modelling tools. A multiscale system is proposed to manage heterogeneous geospatial data efficiently, enabling the development of enriched geometric models with detailed semantic and parametric attributes. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through a case study of the Archaeological Area of Ancient “Abellinum”, showcasing seamless integration between HGISs and HBIM across multiple levels of detail. This work highlights the potential for enhanced management and the interpretation of archaeological heritage using innovative digital methodologies, highlighting the importance of representation in documenting historical transformations.
The proposed work deals with the generative process of high-resolution 360° spherical photographs for the creation of an information container in the form of a virtual tour for the immersive fruition of the archaeological area of Abellinum. The development of the tool aims at the promotion and dissemination of the research results obtained so far within the project “Abellinum. Piano per la conoscenza, la tutela e la valorizzazione dell’antico centro irpino”, as well as a first expeditious approach for the digitisation of an area that is still difficult to access. This procedure, born out of a health emergency but also an economic-social one, acts as a suitable and valid alternative to more time-consuming methodologies, imposing a reflection on the resources to be deployed in relation to the purposes of the cultural offer. After describing the technical approach enacted, the study of the virtual tour interface design and the basic functions adopted in this first phase are investigated, hinting at possible implementations. What emerges is a progressive transdisciplinary enhancement between academic and professional skills for the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage, with the development of new tools and the transformation of existing ones on the basis of a technological process that is in its full rise.