A multidisciplinary approach to 3D survey and reconstruction of historical buildings

The aim of this research is to suggest a methodology based on 3D survey and reconstructive modeling, suitable to increase the actual knowledge of an historical building and supporting its historical interpretation. The case study used for testing the proposed methodology is the huge Chartreuse of Pavia, with a special focus on a relatively unexplored portion of the monument. The survey, based on 3D laser scanning and orthoimages, integrated by historical studies and other complementary information (thermoluminescence dating, IR imaging, hystorical analysis), allowed to read all the architectural aspects hidden in this highly architecturally stratified monument, improving in this way the comprehension of the building’s transformations in time. A 3D reconstruction approach was then suggested, merging several information of different nature, from the actual geometry of the building to the interpretation of historical documents, suggesting a sequence of diachronic models as virtual narration of the historical evolution. On other hand the 3D models were used to obtain a cross-validation of the historical evolution hypotheses developed by experts in the various disciplines involved in the project. The data collected were exploited through a web portal in order to enhance the readability of tangible and intangible heritage associated to that Chartreuse portion, nowadays not accessible to common public.