Digital technologies for the knowledge, the protection and the valorization of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

The modern digital technologies for surveying, modeling and 3D visualizing offer enormous possibilities for the documentation, the
preservation and the use of Cultural Heritage. This experience aims to show the multiple uses of a laser scanning survey for
applications related to cultural heritage. The main focus is the experimentation of integrating geomatics and information technologies
for the recovery and redevelopment of urban spaces (buildings, monuments, territories) characterized by great historical and artistic
assets but barely promoted and enhanced. The paper discusses several possible uses of the point clouds resulting from a laser
scanning survey for the activities of knowledge, protection and enhancement of an historical-architectural monument of Reggio
Emilia (RE). On the technical side, the three-dimensional point cloud model is used for documentation and conservation purposes to
perform detailed analyses on the geometric structure. As a communication tool, the 3D model obtained by the survey is used for
creating an interactive virtual tour of the monument whereas for educational and didactic purposes it is exploited for the rapid
prototyping with a 3D printer of a characteristic element of the site.