The first 25 years of the so-called ‘digital revolution’ have deeply changed the methods and tools of our interaction with the ‘architectural domain’. Traditional lines sketched on traditional paper have been soon replaced by digital mathematical entities created by Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems. Nowadays, we are witnessing a similar shift this time from CAD to the Building Information Modelling (BIM), a system that shows the ability to manage the fragmented but interconnected information needed in building workflow in an ‘all-in-one’ environment. However, while BIM is already a powerful option for new structures, for existing ones (especially when historical) it still reveals inadequate. This issue, seriously affecting the future of the built environment, cannot be ignored in order to control the ‘shaping’ of buildings and cities and especially when their design aims at becoming ‘regenerative’. In this framework, this chapter will try to outline the many difficulties connected with the application of BIM to the existing building stock: a problem that is generally regarded as ‘sectorial’ but that on the contrary will be crucial in view of a probable generalized adoption, considering that existing constructions represent about 70% of the whole European stock.

The 3D virtual modeling of any artifact involves the organized composition of digital elements. This process is common to any 3D modeling workflow but, when applied to BIM systems, shows a good correspondence in the construction processes between the virtual and the real world. In fact, any building can be considered as a coordinated set of simple technological elements, linked together by design logics and construction techniques that are quite predictable and controllable.Even existing buildings can be "deconstructed" into recurring elements, especially if the architectural survey operations reveal the regularity of certain geometric patterns; however, parametric and informative modeling of built artifacts is much more difficult, both in terms of geometric transposition of the continuity of the real world and of its qualitative and semantic description.These difficulties are also associated with the intrinsic rigidity of the parametric modeling workflow, subjected to "libraries" of digital objects that clash against the variability and uniqueness of the built environment, especially when "historic" or in a poor state of conservation. While the transition from numeric to geometric models involves a crucial critical "discretization" operation, in the construction of the BIM, the model involves a further interpretative step: the semantic structuring of its compositional elements.In this framework, the presented study becomes an application opportunity for the theoretical issues highlighted above, using the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence as a case study. The modeling of this monument, relevant from a historical point of view and for its particular stylistic and geometric features, is based on a massive, integrated survey conducted by the University of San Diego. Specifically, we intend to analyze not only how to discern the constructive elements through their semantic segmentation, but above all how to connect them and make them interact with each other. As a result, we aim at providing a representation of the different evolutionary phases and above all propose a more effective meaning for the Levels of Development parameter when applied to built heritage.

This paper presents a research project developed on the archaeological site of Pietrabbondante (Italy) particularly important for its temple-theatre Italic complex. The research entailed not only the massive acquisition of the site through 3D laser scanning and image-based capturing but also the critical study and cataloging of the findings as a premise for the reconstructive hypothesis of the complex. This process of investigation has contributed to enhance the knowledge of the archaeological site, providing support and information to the local administration and helping the local communities to better appreciate the cultural value of the monument.

La ricerca indaga la possibilità di applicare acquisizioni fotografiche aeree da UAS alla documentazione di siti archeologici. Partendo dall'analisi dello stato dell'arte sulle tecniche di acquisizione aerea, lo studio descrive le operazioni di acquisizione fotografica da UAS, la fase di gestione ed elaborazione dei dati per la documentazione archeologica. Caso di studio è l'area archeologica di Locri Epizefiri ed il suo teatro greco-romano. Passaggio fondamentale per la ricerca è stato la definizione di un accurato progetto fotografico e piano di volo per consentire la corretta e completa rappresentazione del sito archeologico, nonché la georeferenziazione tramite ricevitore GNSS. Le operazioni di rilievo, oltre a produrre disegni per la documentazione e l'indagine dell'area archeologica, si prestano ad analisi proporzionali geometriche, stilistiche e diacroniche sulle principali fasi edilizie del monumento. La ricerca storica e l'indagine per immagini si fondono per ampliare le conoscenze e promuovere la comunicazione di siti archeologici poco conosciuti.

La ricerca riflette sulla possibilità di modellazione BIM parametrica dell'ordine architettonico a partire dall'analisi geometrico proporzionale dell'architettura storica. Lo studio dei trattati rinascimentali, ma soprattutto delle tavole raffiguranti le rappresentazioni dell'ordine architettonico, costituiscono spunti per la scelta e l'impostazione dei parametri per la modellazione. Punto di partenza, come per tutte le attività che riguardano la conoscenza di manufatti storico architettonici, sono le acquisizioni massive di dati, in questo caso da TLS, di supporto alla restituzione parametrica dell'ordine architettonico attraverso la modellazione per famiglie nidificate. Affinità tra il concetto di modulo e quello di parametro in termini scientifici emergono con chiarezza e costituiscono il vincolo indissolubile per la conoscenza e il disegno dell'architettura storico costruita.Parole chiave modellazione parametrica, HBIM, ordine architettonico, trattati.