3D Documentation of Natural and Cultural Heritage

Dear Colleagues,

The definition of tangible cultural heritage is wide and includes, but is not limited to, landscapes, built heritage, cities, territories, archaeological sites, minor historical centres, urban environments, cities, suburbs, villages, and hamlets (Article 1 of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention). It is widely accepted that the accurate spatial documentation (from 3D integrated metric surveys or from harmonised geospatial datasets) of these assets is crucial for preservation, restoration, historical analysis, revitalisation, and various other applications. Moreover, such 3D documentation could help, with its high accuracy, highly detailed datasets, or multiscale geodatabases, in planning processing involving different stakeholders, citizens, and local communities.

The proposed Topic will deal with advanced spatial documentation techniques, both 2D and 3D, leveraging contemporary geomatics technologies, GeoAI, 3D city models, and Digital Twins. Several specific documentation techniques can be used to achieve accurate and complete documentation of CH including, but not limited to, the following:

• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) for high-resolution aerial data acquisition using different sensors (e.g., RGB, thermal, multispectral data) and techniques (e.g., aerial imagery and photogrammetry with the aim to create detailed 2D products and 3D models);
• Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and MMS (Mobile Mapping System) generating 3D point clouds with different degrees of accuracy and levels of detail;
• Creation and publication of geodatabase from cartographic dataset of national geoportals (standards compliant with geographic information standards);
• GeoAI approaches that use artificial intelligence to analyse, classify, and interpret geospatial data for cultural heritage applications;
•  Novel technology for the metric documentation of CH.

For the application of these geomatics techniques to CH documentation, the following specific aims are considered in this Topic:

• Provide precise and detailed 2D and 3D metric documentation (by means of geomatics techniques acquisitions and approaches) of cultural heritage assets;
• Enable various analyses through the application of modern geomatics techniques and GeoAI;
• Facilitate the creation and use of Digital Twins for cultural heritage sites;
• Support diverse applications, including risk assessment, restoration planning, and heritage management;
• Use the documentation to deal with possible scenarios like risk management, urban planning, sustainable plans, regulatory plans, restoration actions, etc.

We are targeting contributions that achieve the following:

• Present case studies demonstrating the successful application of 2D and 3D metric documentation techniques in cultural heritage;
• Explore innovative methods and technologies for spatial documentation;
• Discuss the integration of documentation data into various analytical and application frameworks;
• Analyse the impact of advanced spatial documentation on risk assessment, restoration planning, and heritage management.

This Topic highlights the importance of advanced spatial documentation in cultural heritage, with the aim of supporting independent researchers, professionals, and national public and private entities in its management, conservation, study, and promotion. By integrating cutting-edge geomatics techniques, GeoAI, and Digital Twins, this research will provide new insights and methodologies for comprehensive documentation, facilitating the various applications crucial for preserving and managing cultural heritage.

Furthermore, the proposed Topic seeks to advance the understanding and application of the available documentation approaches for Cultural Heritage. By fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration, this Topic also aims to contribute to the development of innovative solutions for the preservation and management of cultural heritage sites, ensuring their protection and appreciation for future generations.

Dr. Lorenzo Teppati Losè
Dr. Elisabetta Colucci
Dr. Arnadi Dhestaratri Murtiyoso
Topic Editors