HBIM at the Sapienza master's programme: the BIM model in archaeology

We are very pleased to announce that we have been invited to share our experience of the HBIM process at Sapienza University of Rome, on the Master's in Law and New Technologies for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage.

The protection and enhancement of cultural heritage must certainly also go through an HBIM process that involves creating intelligent three-dimensional models containing all the information on the “present” of the asset but, above all, on the “past” of the work.

Virtual archaeology, which researches and develops computer-based graphic visualisation for the integrated management of archaeological heritage, has recognised the potential of BIM, which makes it possible to interact with the three-dimensional model of the graphic reconstruction. BIM, used to describe new urban buildings, has also taken on historic architecture: its 3D representation and the collection of analysis data for restoration and enhancement work.

Ancient Pantheon in Rome at cloudy sunrise, Italy

The BIM approach differs between modern and historic architecture: for modern architecture, BIM offers the chance to see a building built before it is physically constructed, so that problems that would affect the site in terms of time and cost can be anticipated and solved. HBIM, on the other hand, provides in-depth historical, geometric and material knowledge of a building of historic, artistic and architectural value, which is an essential condition for high-quality restoration projects.

Large databases are fed with identification, morphological and construction data on every object, part or element shown in the scene, along with more general data on the archaeological context and on the archaeological site where the excavations took place. High-definition survey methods make it possible to generate point clouds that show measurements and volumes; software processing produces the mesh or texture, that is, the definition of the surfaces that make up the actual 3D model.

At this point, starting from the three-dimensional surface formed by the texture, which depicts the surveyed work, the parametric 3D model is created. Trials of the system have shown, however, that many of the families and building object properties that the software applies by default, being designed solely for modern and contemporary construction, are of no use in describing historic architecture. The lack of symmetry and regularity and the uniqueness of ancient building elements conflict with the linearity, regularity and standardisation of the objects in the software's default libraries. We could consider enriching the software with new families that reflect the archaeological object and its characteristics.

Applying the BIM approach to buildings of historic, monumental and architectural value is an interesting challenge for their conservation.