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: Virtual Reality
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Digital methodologies for architectural heritage preservation: integrating photogrammetry, mobile laser scanning, and immersive technologies
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Digital Techniques to Engineer and Build a Large Sculpture in Heritage Public Space
Planning and realising a large sculpture in a heritage public space requires succeeding in diverse, sometimes contrasting, multidisciplinary objectives. This paper reports on a research project developed to support the communication, engineering and construction of a permanent sculptural masterpiece within the public historic centre of Rome. While the entire process of creating the art piece is explained, the main emphasis is on the experimental application of various technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Laser Scanning, Virtual Reality (VR), Parametric Modelling and Numerical Simulations. These technologies were utilised due to the size of the sculpture and the peculiarities of the context. The primary focus of this study is to develop and implement a workflow that can enhance collaboration and efficiency among stakeholders like artists, clients, engineers, urbanists, archaeologists, art foundry fabricators, and public authorities. The project adopted an action research methodology because of its strategic ability to connect experimentation and practice in order to address a realistic cross-disciplinary problem in its actual context.