Despite rising digitisation, the construction industry continues to be marked by redundancy, multi-plication, and, at the same time, a lack of transparency and disaggregation of data and information, resulting in inadequate project life cycle management in terms of time, cost, and quality. This paper presents the results of the development of a TRL 4-5 ICT application based on the integration of Building Information Modeling and blockchain technologies, with the goal of fostering digitisation pro-cesses in the supply chain in the direction of greater information flow transparency, knowledge-based organizations, and decision-making processes based on unambiguous ordered data. The initiative, which began as a broader industry research cooperation, now includes a university spin-off, compa-nies that operate as system integrators, and leaders in the customisation of BIM solutions for the built heritage value chain.
Connecting AR and BIM:a Prototype App
This contribution discusses an ongoing project integrating information modeling and immersive tech-nologies for the built space, in particular augmented reality (AR). We examined tools and procedures to quickly recognize the equipment present on telecommunication network sites and access the cor-responding components on a digital information model. A first phase of the project, recently complet-ed, produced an app prototype for mobile devices capable of showing a 1:1 scale AR representation on-site. The project highlights current limitations and opportunities in making the interaction between AR and building information modeling (BIM) technologies fully scalable.
Collaborative BIM-AR Workflow for Maintenance of Built Heritage
The research proposes a BIM-AR workflow to ensure the monitoring of the built heritage.Indeed, the application of AR might be an extension of the BIM since it allows during the on-site surveys’ phases to add and update punctual information within the BIM model overcoming the tradi-tional survey methods based on cards. Consequently, the information models can act as collaborative tools at the service of public autorithies and stakeholders, thus supporting an efficient building man-agement, also from a preventive perspective. The research is a development based on the results of the Fondamenti di modellazione BIM per il settore delle costruzioni[1] academic course of the master’s degree course in Ingegneria Edile-Architettura [2] of the University of Padua. Starting from the students’ BIM models, the workflow exposes the integrability of the AR during the on-site survey campaigns of a case study to verify the geometric accuracy and the structural problematics of the BIM models overlapped to the real buildings by recording the information directly on them.
Multi-Level Information Processing Systems in the Digital Twin Era
The most challenging aspect of the scientific panorama linked to technological innovation is the search for possible connections between Representation, Man and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the complex ecosystem that defines a Digital Twin. Man plays a crucial role in facilitating communication processes both for the dissemination of knowledge and the accessibility and usability of content and for his ability to become a “sensor” and communicate information, feelings, emotions. The contribution proposes a cross-section of applications that link and decline Augmented Reality and AI differently according to a gradual scale shift from the artefact contained in a building overlooking an urban context of interest. The result is a multi-level information processing system derived from the three-dimensional matrix that links data collection, representation and visualisation techniques and tools with the cultural heri-tage – city, building, artefact – according to specific use cases.
Data Structure for Cultural Heritage. Paintings from BIM to Social Media AR
This paper focuses on a process to communicate and enhance cultural heritage value. In this context, one of the main challenges is to combine its value with digital strategies and methods without losing information and increasing communication and public-private involvement. The paper proposes a methodology that uses BIM (Building Information Modeling) and CDE (Common Data Environment) concepts to build and organize information of paintings through connected databases, typically pro-duced by multiple actors. A case study in San Nicolò in Carpi verifies its application. An Instagram pro-file has been created transferring data from BIM models to Spark AR Studio to demonstrate a meth-od that creates an Augmented Reality application for cultural heritage, without the need of coding.
Reliability in HBIM-XR for Built Heritage Preservation and Communication Purposes
In recent years, applied research and building information modelling (BIM) have been directed to the scan-to-BIM process by implementing increasingly high-performance methods capable of managing a large amount of data such as laser scans and high-resolution orthophotos and textured mesh models from digital photogrammetry (terrestrial and aerial). On the other hand, the digitisation process of built heritage and the paradigms of the “reliability” and “transparency” of HBIM models have not yet been wholly considered by the main international BIM standards. For that reason, this study proposes a method and the development of HBIM parameters capable of communicating heterogeneous val-ues to support the life cycle of the building, from the survey campaign to the restoration and mainte-nance of the asset. In this context, 3D modelling, HBIM, building archaeology, visual programming lan-guage (VPL) and extended reality (XR) have been directed to a scan-to-HBIM-to-XR method able to improve the information sharing of earthquake-damaged buildings such as the San Francesco church in Arquata del Tronto, moving from for different types of users, digital devices and virtual experiences.
IoT and BIM Interoperability: Digital Twins in Museum Collections
According to the 2017 International Council of Museums (ICOM) guidelines, data on museum col-lections must be stored in a secure environment, supported by backup systems that allow access by all legitimate users, complete and unique identification, and description (associations, provenance, condition, treatment and current location) of each object are required.Concerning these indications, it is therefore, a priority to establish precise protocols for the preven-tive conservation and analysis of data concerning not only the identity of the asset or the information collected during its study, but also how it is preserved.This paper proposes a digital framework for the management of museum structures and collections, integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodologies for the preservation and visualization of data with Internet of Things (IoT) methodologies for its collection and analysis.
Semantic Mapping of Architectural Heritage via Artificial Intelligence and H-BIM
Starting from the virtual photogrammetric 3D reconstruction, this work proposes a classification method, based on Artificial Intelligence, allowing to semi-automatically characterize the digital models of existing architectural heritage in terms of material mapping and/or decay condition. The obtained data, once classified, is used and transferred in BIM environment, so to favor the construction of in-formative models rich in analytical content. The proposed approach is described with reference to the significant case study of the Chiesa del Carmine in Pisa, for the study and restitution of the liturgical and decorative apparatus, as part of a large-scale research project, still underway, on the reconstruc-tion of the tramezzo screens for the churches of the Mendicant orders.
Point Cloud Segmentation for Scanto BIM: Review of Related Tecniques
The creation of as-built BIM models sees in the scan to BIM modeling one of the most time-consuming activities. Scan to BIM modeling refers to the creation of BIM objects from information derived from point clouds acquired through laser scans or photogrammetric techniques. Numerous studies have been conducted in recent years to identify automation or semi-automation procedures for the scan to BIM modeling process, which consists of different aspects: the recognition of objects within the scene, the modeling of their geometry and the recognition of the relationships between them. The present work aims to analyze actual trends in the automation of scan to BIM activities, highlighting the most used approaches and methodologies currently presented in order to provide a key to un-derstanding the development of a theme still at the dawn of its expression.
AR to Rediscover Heritage: the Case Study of Salerno Defense System
Recognizing and transmitting the uniqueness and identity of one’s territory represents fundamental step to guarantee its sustainability, protection and valorisation. Of particular importance, moreover, is the issues of the lesser-known heritage of great value but which, unfortunately, in some cases is still little known and often in a state of neglect. However, the diffusion of new technology and the great development of digitization positively contribute to the accessibility and visibility of these patrimonies, increasing the knowledge and the dissemination. This contribution focuses on one of the towers of the coastal defence system, a perfect example of a lesser-known architecture of great interest to be valued. Through a multidisciplinary approach, which inextricably links history and new ICT applica-tions, it will be possible to improve the knowledge of the heritage, enriching with complementary information that goes beyond the simple geometric definition of the building: an important tool for protection and preservation mainly for informative purposes.