Application of Digital Technology in the Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 November 2024 | Viewed by 5631

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Graphical Expression and Building Engineering, University of Seville, Ave. Reina Mercedes 4A, 41012 Seville, Spain
Interests: building information modelling; construction technology; BIM; heritage digital twin; HBIM (heritage building information modeling); IT architecture; heritage conservation; conservation and restoration of cultural heritage; architectural drawings; architecture; construction

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Graphical Expression and Building Engineering, University of Seville, Ave. Reina Mercedes 4A, 41012 Seville, Spain
Interests: energy efficiency in building; architectural history; energy saving; green building; sustainable architecture; architecture; building technology; sustainable construction; BIM; construction project management

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: building diagnostics; digital survey; historic building information modelling; virtual reality
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Addressing archaeological, architectural and artistic heritage requires different phases that include study, knowledge, and the precise and rigorous obtainment of documents that aid in the preservation of cultural assets, whether movable or immovable. Therefore, the preservation and restoration of our Cultural Heritage (CH) requires the application of the most innovative, precise and effective techniques so that the intervention is sustainable and lasts for a long time. However, sound historical information is as important as reliable graphic documentation and 3D reconstruction, which support data transfer for research, conservation or heritage dissemination purposes.

Currently, evaluating the topography of the site or monument, carrying out surveys using photogrammetric techniques or employing scans taken by aerial and terrestrial equipment are common in any intervention related to Cultural Heritage. All these measurement and representation techniques share the ability to faithfully transmit the material reality of the cultural assets that we want to know and preserve. Valid data in the scan-to-BIM process help to create 3D models that conform to built surfaces. However, this process is still fraught with great challenges. One is the fact that the data sets are interoperable between the different operators and software aggregates that exist in the academic community.

In order to solve the different knowledge gaps regarding the application of innovative, efficient and sustainable methodologies in cultural heritage in general, the Editorial Office of MDPI’s journal Buildings is presenting a Special Issue entitled “Digital Technology Application in the Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings”. In addition to the digitization of objects in faithful 3D models, the virtual reconstruction of historical environments or monuments from the remains that still exist, and the investment in and interaction of these with the visitor, are fundamental in the preservation and transmission of our culture. This is without forgetting the automation of processes, reducing the working hours of human operators. However, these techniques must be based on scientifically endorsed processes, in which rigorous hypotheses are established based on proven scientific data.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect the experiences of authors and their most innovative results concerning the interventions and conservation processes performed in order to address historical sites and monuments, which are a testimony to our rich Cultural Heritage. This Special Issue particularly welcomes submissions that seek to integrate different efficient systems and diverse technological resources (including AI) in order to study, catalogue, preserve and disseminate the universal architectural, archaeological and artistic heritage (PA3). This also implies that the expert community can evaluate its usefulness and contrast its effectiveness as an innovative means of study. This is therefore the best means of achieving positive and rapid implementation in the sector.

Dr. Juan Enrique Nieto-Julián
Dr. Juan J. Moyano
Dr. Silvana Bruno
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cultural heritage
  • conservation
  • scan-to-BIM
  • HBIM
  • photogrammetry
  • drone photogrammetry
  • artificial intelligence
  • building archaeology
  • image segmentation
  • masonry structure
  • point pattern analysis
  • digital twin

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 19423 KiB  
Article
Conservation of Socio-Religious Historic Buildings: A Case Study of Shah Yousuf Gardez Shrine
by Sunera Imtiaz, Sabahat Arif, Ahsan Nawaz and Syyed Adnan Raheel Shah
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2116; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072116 - 10 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1082
Abstract
Historic buildings are considered assets for generations. The use of 3D interactive models is an excellent way to document such historic cultural heritage. Such buildings include socio-religious buildings, such as shrines and religious monuments. Digital technologies such as photogrammetry and laser scanning play [...] Read more.
Historic buildings are considered assets for generations. The use of 3D interactive models is an excellent way to document such historic cultural heritage. Such buildings include socio-religious buildings, such as shrines and religious monuments. Digital technologies such as photogrammetry and laser scanning play a pivotal role in monitoring and safeguarding precious shrine cultural heritage. These advanced techniques allow the capture of details and accurate 3D representations of cultural artifacts, architectural structures, and even entire shrines. This study deals with research related to the conservation of the selected historic shrine of Shah Yousaf Gardez. A laser scanner methodology was used to produce a high-level detail interactive model translated into a heritage building information modeling (HBIM) prototype. This HBIM model has been designed to maintain the historical details of the shrine, especially geometric features, artwork present on the surface, and condition of structural as well as non-structural components. Data analysis of defects in structural and non-structural components was also analyzed in the study. This study was conducted fort the first time for a shrine case study. It will not only help to document and preserve historic buildings and cultural heritage but also monitor potential degradation or damage over time. Using this technology, scheduled conservation and restoration efforts ensuring the long-term preservation of these invaluable treasures can be adopted. Full article
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33 pages, 21367 KiB  
Article
A Case Study of Integrating Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Heritage Bridge Documentation: The Edmund Pettus Bridge
by Danielle S. Willkens, Junshan Liu and Shadi Alathamneh
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 1940; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14071940 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1478
Abstract
The Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Alabama, a symbol of the American Civil Rights Movement and an exemplar of early 20th-century engineering, stands as a testament to the progress and challenges of its era. The bridge, recognized for its pivotal role in the 1965 [...] Read more.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Alabama, a symbol of the American Civil Rights Movement and an exemplar of early 20th-century engineering, stands as a testament to the progress and challenges of its era. The bridge, recognized for its pivotal role in the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” conflict and the following Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights, also represents significant engineering achievements with its distinctive design and construction methodology. In this study, the research team presents a comprehensive framework for documenting heritage bridges by utilizing Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology, supplemented by other Reality Capture (RC) techniques, including Structure from Motion (SfM), 360-degree photography, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and integrating the data within a Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment. The focus on the Edmund Pettus Bridge case study demonstrates how this novel approach can capture the intricate details of its structural and architectural features while preserving its historical narratives. The documentation outcomes, including a detailed BIM model and a set of Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) drawings, highlight the effectiveness of combining TLS and BIM in conserving unconventional heritage structures like bridges. This paper also discusses the technological challenges encountered, such as dealing with heavy traffic and environmental constraints during data acquisition and developing the BIM model and drawings. It outlines the strategies implemented to address these issues. This research contributes to preserving a severely under-represented American National Historic Landmark (NHL). It sets a precedent for documenting other non-building heritage structures, balancing technological advancements with historical integrity. Full article
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28 pages, 10445 KiB  
Article
A Historical Building Information Modeling-Based Framework to Improve Collaboration and Data Security in Architectural Heritage Restoration Projects
by Cong Zhou, Xingyao Dong, Yiquan Zou, Hao Yang, Jingtao Zhi and Zhixiang Ren
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051431 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
With the increasing awareness of architectural heritage conservation and the development of digital technology, there is an urgent need in the field of architectural heritage restoration for a novel solution that can enhance data security, collaboration efficiency, and file management capabilities. This study [...] Read more.
With the increasing awareness of architectural heritage conservation and the development of digital technology, there is an urgent need in the field of architectural heritage restoration for a novel solution that can enhance data security, collaboration efficiency, and file management capabilities. This study proposes an Architectural Heritage Restoration Distributed Common Data Environment (AHR-DCDE) framework based on blockchain and IPFS technologies to address the above challenges. The AHR-DCDE framework significantly improves data security and collaborative efficiency in architectural heritage restoration projects by creating a decentralized collaborative design process that achieves data immutability, traceability, and efficient large-scale file processing capabilities. The AHR-DCDE framework significantly improves data security and collaborative efficiency in architectural heritage restoration projects by creating a decentralized collaborative design process that achieves data immutability, traceability, and efficient large-scale file processing capabilities. In this study, the practicality and effectiveness of the AHR-DCDE framework is verified by taking the heritage restoration design project of Pinghe Packing Factory in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as an example. Evaluation of the framework’s network latency, throughput, and storage costs indicates that AHR-DCDE can meet the requirements of architectural heritage restoration projects, possessing efficient capabilities for handling and sharing project data. Furthermore, the implementation of the AHR-DCDE framework also facilitates efficient collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, providing robust technical support for the protection and restoration of architectural heritage. Full article
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25 pages, 20881 KiB  
Article
Digital Twin Research on Masonry–Timber Architectural Heritage Pathology Cracks Using 3D Laser Scanning and Deep Learning Model
by Shengzhong Luo and Hechi Wang
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1129; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041129 - 17 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1208
Abstract
Due to various factors such as aging, natural environment erosion, and man-made destruction, architectural heritage has formed various diseases and cracks, especially in pathology cracks, which are the most typical masonry–timber architectural heritages, directly affecting the structural stability of masonry–timber buildings. This paper [...] Read more.
Due to various factors such as aging, natural environment erosion, and man-made destruction, architectural heritage has formed various diseases and cracks, especially in pathology cracks, which are the most typical masonry–timber architectural heritages, directly affecting the structural stability of masonry–timber buildings. This paper uses artificial intelligence and architecture and other multi-disciplinary research methods, taking James Jackson Gymnasium, a famous masonry–timber architectural heritage in Wuhan, as an example, using 3D laser scanning technology to obtain disease details and crack data of architectural heritage, using a Mask R-CNN model to detect crack area, using an FCN model to identify and calculate single cracks, and finally summarizing the type, location, and characteristics of cracks, analyzing the causes of cracks, and then putting forward corresponding hierarchical restoration strategies. The research results build a set of detection and repair systems of masonry–timber architectural heritage pathology cracks, which provide a set of accurate and objective pathology cracks data for architectural heritage protection and repair, and provide a reference for architectural heritage repair. Full article
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