Digital Techniques for the Documentation, Diagnosis, and Safety Assessment of Architectural Heritage

Heritage conservation strongly relies on in-depth knowledge of the cultural asset to preserve its values. In this regard, the survey-based phase of documentation is needed for a complete understanding of the morphological characteristics of the construction and its context, in order both to reveal situations that possibly affect the structural safety, and to implement the actual deformed geometry into a FE model. In the last decades, researchers have devoted great attention to the application of architectural heritage safeguarding methodologies that involve new forms of digital products resulting from the progress of advanced survey techniques in the field of digital representation of heritage structures. 3D models by themselves have the great advantage of providing a complete and metrically correct representation of the building. Besides, when informed by applying computer-based cognitive and interactive tools, they become useful digital products for investigations related to shape and damage phenomena. This work explores the capability of traditional survey techniques, and innovative, cost-effective ones for the documentation, diagnosis, and monitoring of heritage structures. The presentation of case studies introduces the application of adequate knowledge practices aimed at triggering a process of safeguarding cultural heritage structures.