Digital Documentation for Heritage and Archaeology: Standards, Innovations, and Challenges
A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Digital Heritage".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editors
Interests: 3D documetation; 3D scanning; 3D modeling; archaeology; BIM; HBIM; LiDAR; open-source; photogrammetry
Interests: 3D documetation; 3D modeling; 360° cameras; archaeology; geospatial data; LiDAR; photogrammetry; SLAM; UAV photogrammetry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: 3D archaeology; archaeology of production; archaeological documentation; classical archaeology; digital humanities in archaeology; ancient pottery; ancient greek and roman world
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The digital transformation of heritage and archaeological documentation has ushered in a new era of documentation, analysis, and accessibility. Advanced 3D data acquisition methodologies, coupled with post-processing techniques, allow for deeper investigation and enhanced understanding of cultural heritage assets.
This Special Issue explores the multifaceted innovations reshaping the field, with a particular focus on both consolidated and emerging technologies related to 3D survey (LiDAR, SLAM, photogrammetry), data analysis and management (3D modelling, computational imaging, digital photographic techniques such as RTI, as well as post-processing techniques), and their application in cultural heritage, and especially within the archaeological contexts. Increasingly reliable sensors and metrics now enable the creation of high-fidelity digital replicas—Digital Twins/Digital Shadows—and immersive reconstructions that preserve not only tangible but also intangible cultural heritage. Crucially, digital twinning also requires the integration of semantic and historical information to ensure meaningful and context-rich documentation.
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR) are further transforming the ways in which scholars and the public engage with historical environments, offering dynamic, multisensory experiences that transcend traditional interpretative modes. Informative systems such as Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance both analytical and spatial understanding of heritage sites, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and supporting conservation strategies.
Nevertheless, digital documentation still faces significant challenges, including issues of interoperability, standardisation, ethics, and the long-term sustainability of digital archives. This Special Issue addresses these concerns by encouraging dialogue around best practices, metadata frameworks, publication standards, and open-access repositories.
We invite innovative contributions and case studies from diverse cultural contexts, highlighting how digital documentation can advance the recording and preservation of historical and archaeological heritage, support conservation and restoration efforts, and broaden accessibility to cultural knowledge.
Dr. Filippo Diara
Dr. Lorenzo Teppati Losè
Dr. Marco Serino
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. Heritage 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 1600 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
- 3D modelling
- 3D scanning
- augmented reality
- computational imaging
- digital heritage
- digital humanities
- informative systems (HBIM-GIS)
- LiDAR
- photogrammetry
- virtual reality
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
