This paper presents a digital documentation methodology designed for the conservation and adaptive reuse of built heritage, tested within an international educational framework. The approach integrates photogrammetry, mobile laser scanning (MLS), drone-based imaging, and immersive technologies to generate interactive and metrically reliable digital outputs. Implemented through a collaboration between the University of Pavia and the Polytechnic of Krakow, the methodology was applied to the Hebdowski Palace in Krakow, an abandoned heritage site of architectural significance.
The study combines theoretical instruction with practical, on-site data acquisition and post-processing, enabling students to collect, interpret, and visualize spatial and material information using open-source tools. The workflow supports rapid generation of point clouds, 3D models, and immersive environments, suitable for both technical analysis and public engagement.
Key results include the creation of a multi-layered digital narrative structured around thematic scenarios, enabling detailed documentation of architectural elements, pathologies, and conservation needs. A 360-degree virtual tour consolidates this output into an accessible digital platform, facilitating both education and heritage valorisation.
Beyond its pedagogical role, the research demonstrates how fast, low-cost digital tools can contribute to broader heritage conservation strategies aligned with European frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda and the New European Bauhaus. This methodology promotes an interdisciplinary, open-access model of heritage documentation that bridges academic learning with real-world application, offering a replicable model for similar contexts across Europe.
Tag: Digital documentation
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Digital methodologies for architectural heritage preservation: integrating photogrammetry, mobile laser scanning, and immersive technologies
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Digital representation strategies to reveal the cultural significance of Canadian Post-war Architecture
Considering the growing attention on the architecture of the second half of the 20th century and the rising issue of its documentation and interpretation, an operative methodology is presented to support knowledge production activities and conservation. Post-war architectural lexicon materialized spatial narratives from the ’50s up to the present. These spatial narratives can be visualized through analogic or digital drawing to gain in-depth knowledge and support interpretation and analysis.
The proposed documentation strategy emphasizes the opportunities for digital representation in revealing and interpreting the post-war architectural lexicon. The potential advantages of employing digital survey and representation techniques for information visualization and management are being discussed in relation to the Strutt House, designed by Canadian architect James W. Strutt between 1951 and 1957.
The study encompassed a thorough examination of primary and secondary sources, a comprehensive survey, and the experimentation with various modeling approaches in the SCAN to BIM procedure, with the final aim of comprehending the significance, purpose, and cultural value of documented characteristics. The adopted approach exploits the opportunities of geometric 3D modeling to visualize complex structures and semantic enrichment in an HBIM environment to support the knowledge, interpretation, and preservation of this outstanding example of Canadian Post-war architecture.