Track 01 – Documentation, Preservation, Monitoring and Restoration

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https://diglib.eg.org/handle/10.2312/3607218

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Digital Inpainting of Damaged Frescoes Using a Fine-Tuned Diffusion Model
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Smolka, Milena; Smolka, Bogdan; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Frescoes are a vital part of cultural heritage, but they are increasingly deteriorating due to environmental and human factors. Traditional restoration methods are costly, labor-intensive, and may risk compromising the original artwork-particularly when the damaged content is uncertain. These challenges highlight the need for innovative approaches that can complement conventional techniques. This paper explores the application of a deep learning-based method for the virtual restoration of frescoes. The focus is on image inpainting, a process that fills in missing fragments by leveraging information from the undamaged parts of the image, while preserving consistency in texture, color, and artistic style. When enhanced by deep learning models, this approach enables the generation of realistic reconstructions, even for areas where the original appearance is unknown. The study evaluates the effectiveness of fine-tuned models in restoring both minor and major damage, such as small cracks and missing sections, using different sets of hyperparameters. Model performance was assessed using a combination of objective quality metrics and subjective evaluations. Additionally, an intuitive web-based tool was developed to make the restoration process more accessible and user-friendly.
Visualization, Virtualization, and 3D Data Analysis in the Historical (Re) Construction of Household, Village, and Regional Landscapes: The Mount Amiata-Maremma Digital Heritage Project
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Bigiotti, D.; Baleani, B.; Maschner, Herbert; Nucciotti, M.; Campana, Stefano; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Building on the seminal Mt. Amiata Project, the innovative Emptyscapes Project, and the initial work of Global Digital Heritage (GDH)) in southern Tuscany, a new form of transdisciplinary research is being developed. This project will transform the documentation, interpretation, and dissemination of the region's rich archaeological and historical heritage through interdisciplinary methodologies and the integration of advanced digital tools, including remote sensing, GIS, photogrammetry, and 3D visualization. This paper outlines the project's multi-scalar and diachronic approach to heritage analysis, emphasizing the interaction between digital technologies, historical reconstruction, and local community participation.
3D Technologies on the Underwater Archaeological Site of the Ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria (Egypt)
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Hairy, Isabelle; Abdelaziz, Mohamed; Elsayed, Mohamed; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Located in Alexandria, Egypt, the ancient Pharos ruins lie scattered across approximately 1.6 hectares under the Mediterranean Sea. Since 1994, the Centre d'Études Alexandrines (CEAlex), a research unit operating under the aegis of the CNRS, has been leading extensive studies of this complex submerged site with an international team of underwater archaeologists. Due to the scale of the work, scientists initiated a photogrammetry program in 2009 for studying and potentially reassembling the archaeological fragments. This effort expanded in 2013 with the creation of a digital twin of the entire site. Digital technologies have profoundly transformed the scientists' work, both in the field and during post-excavation analysis, opening new avenues for site analysis and research perspectives.
Under Fire Heritage of Ukraine: some insights from early damage assessment activity
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Nebbia, Marco; Jorayev, Gai; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Cultural heritage sites have been increasingly destroyed within conflict areas around the world, both as collateral damage of action of bombing and shelling and as result of deliberate targeting. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of the damage that conflicts are inflicting to the heritage of countries involved in bombings and shelling have been conducted by archaeologists both on the ground and with the help of aerial datasets. In this paper we would like to present the initiative of a pilot assessment of the damage perpetrated to monuments and heritage locations in Ukraine during the Russian invasion of the country in March 2022. In this case, the aerial and ground assessments were conducted during the ongoing conflict and the paper will elucidate the positive and negative implications that this had on the investigation. The pilot study was a collaboration between a group of Ukrainian archaeologists from various institutions, the University College London, and the Global Heritage Fund, where team members with different expertise joined forces to documents the damage to Ukrainian heritage in the cities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv. An agreement with Planet Labs allowed the team to have access to weekly satellite coverage of the two cities, thus providing for a detail tracking of the patterns of destruction occurring during the initial phases of the military invasion. Meanwhile, a team of archaeologists conducted a ground damage assessment of heritage buildings and monuments within the two urban areas. The combination of the two sets of data, aerial monitoring and ground assessment, led to a more complete picture of the overall destruction and also allowed to clarify whether the heritage assets affected by bombing and shelling were the result of collateral damage or were indeed deliberately targeted. The results show that in Kharkiv the most affected monuments are located in the areas of the city that were primarily hit, whereas in Chernihiv they were specifically targeted in order to allegedly strike the heritage and identity of the Ukrainian people.
The RePAIR Project: Datasets for archaeological and restoration studies in Pompeii
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Zuchtriegel, Gabriel; Brunetto, Maria Antonella; Gravina, Elena; Napolitano, Maria Cristina; Ricciardi, Francesca Simona; Zambrano, Alessandra; Khoroshiltseva, Marina; Palmieri, Luca; Pelillo, Marcello; Vascon, Sebastiano; Elkin, Gur; Shahar, Ofir Itzhak; Ohayon, Yaniv; Alali, Nadav; Ben-Shahar, Ohad; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
The work will focus on the RePAIR project, an acronym that means Reconstructing the Past: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics meets Cultural Heritage. The case study is the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in which the fragments of wall paintings from two buildings buried by the volcanic eruption of AD 79, the House of Painters at Work and of the Schola Armaturarum have been chosen as the focus of the project. We concentrated on developing an innovative technology to be used in the physical reconstruction of archaeological artefacts with the help of artificial intelligence and a robotic infrastructure. Two Datasets are used to allow the artificial intelligence to recognise the 3D volumes of each fragment and the iconography of the pompeian wall paintings.
Digital Recording of the Domus of Arianna in Pompeii: Toward a HBIM Platform for Site Management
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Oreni, Daniela; Jovanovic, Dina; Barazzetti, Luigi; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Techniques and digital devices, which provide precise survey and analysis, today predominantly support cultural heritage investigation. However, achieving the required level of accuracy and geometrical representation necessitates the integration of diverse data sources. The data acquisition aided the creation of the complex 3D model, which decomposition, codification, and organisation had to be led by the norms and standards. Subsequently, the project aims to develop and test a Heritage Building Model (HBIM) digital platform for the management of the archaeological sites of Pompeii, designed to integrate the requirements of conservation and enhancement of the built heritage. The outcome of the research is a scalable and interoperable 3D digital environment, structured and linked to data repository. The Domus of Arianna in Pompeii Archological Park serves as the pilot case for the platform's development.
Low-Cost LiDAR Sensors for the Survey of Underground Cultural Heritage: applications on the Siena Bottini (Italy)
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Rossi, Gioele; Ceccotti, Paolo; Troilo, Maria Elena Di; Gabbrielli, Fabio; Giamello, Marco; Tavarnelli, Enrico; Tizzani, Antonio; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
The 3D survey of underground systems is an important tool for geometric surveys, thematic mapping, documentation of the state of conservation, monitoring, planning of restoration and maintenance interventions, safety and use. The aim of the research is to test an innovative, economical, rapid and non-invasive system for the survey of underground environments. An example of an underground system is that of the bottini Senesi, a set of tunnels present in the subsoil of the city of Siena for a total development of 25 km. These ancient underground environments, created in the past for the supply and distribution of drinking water in the city of Siena, represent a complex and articulated structure, and constitute an important hidden heritage of the city. Inside them it is difficult to use topographic survey tools, 3D scanners and RTK (Real-Time Kinematics) due to lack of space, brightness and satellite coverage. The LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology integrated into Apple iPhone PRO devices was therefore used in some sections of the bottini, where the technologies grouped in a single instrument, which are based on photogrammetry, on LiDAR laser pulses and on data processing through triangular meshing, allow for rapid three-dimensional surveys. The detail of the scans was obtained with the use of an electronic stabilizer, for better fluidity in the survey, and of a LED light for intense and homogeneous illumination. All integrated with metric evaluations carried out with the aid of an electronic range finder to verify the measurements taken. The results present clear colours and shapes, despite the presence of a planimetric deviation of a few centimetres given by various factors such as too sudden scanning movements, lack of effective lighting and/or distant positioning of the photogrammetry targets. The adoption of LiDAR technology on mobile devices, therefore, represents a significant step in the documentation and protection of underground systems, such as the Bottini Senesi, characterized by difficult logistical conditions of detection, and offers new tools for the knowledge and conservation of cultural heritage. The integration of a detailed 3D model with GIS software and 3D modeling platforms facilitates historical, archaeological, geological and structural analysis, supporting and documenting maintenance, restoration and conservation interventions. The data collected can also be used for scientific dissemination and the enhancement of heritage, also through digital reconstructions and virtual tours.
A Preliminary Study of the Morphology and Spatial Distribution of Funerary Elements in the Southwestern Cemetery of Wadi al-Ma'awel, Oman
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Meneses, Ana Sofia; Solinas, Marco; Ramazzotti, M.; Musacchio, Massimo; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This study examines funerary morphologies and their spatial organization in the western and southwestern ceme- tery of Wadi al-Ma'awel, Oman, spanning the Wadi Suq and Iron Age periods. Using field surveys, remote sens- ing, and GIS analysis (Standard Deviation Ellipse method), we documented 185 funerary structures, primarily circular, rectangular, and ogival. Statistical analyses in R identified significant clustering related to cultural and environmental factors. Integrating these spatial indicators with geometric measurements in a random forest model significantly improved morphological classification accuracy. The results highlight the importance of spatial context in interpreting burial practices and provide a predictive framework for locating additional burial sites.
Cultural Heritage Dissemination Via Websites - Case Studies
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Skulimowski, Stanislaw Piotr; Badurowicz, Marcin; Zyła, Kamil; Tokarski, Piotr; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This study examines the interplay between web portal architecture, user engagement, and the efficacy of cultural heritage dissemination through an analysis of three heritage-focused web portals, that are presenting results of digitisation efforts undertaken by employees of the Department of Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, being: Silk Road 3D, Carpatia 3D, and Polish Heritage 3D. While advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) enhance experiential depth for specialized audiences, literature identify intuitive navigation, coherent content organization, and strategic multimedia integration as critical drivers of sustained user interaction. The portals, developed via WordPress CMS with custom plugins and support for multiple languages, emphasize accessibility, inclusivity, and multilingualism to broaden reach. Analytical data spanning several years reveal that niche content differentiation limits audience scalability, underscoring the need for enhanced SEO strategies and supplementary contextual materials. The findings offer actionable insights for developers and researchers aiming to optimize digital platforms for cultural heritage preservation and global engagement.
Mediating Art History Data Models for Native Linked Data Construction using ResearchSpace
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Adamou, Alessandro; Voronova, Polina; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Key challenges in digital art history concern translating common domain data models to the ontological framework of CIDOC-CRM and the like. This paper reports on the practical and methodological application in a domain, i.e. ritual spaces in medieval Europe, that is predicated on a very specific local model, and on how to operationalize it using the ResearchSpace platform. We illustrate the key challenges with directly building linked data in this domain for integration with other knowledge graphs in the humanities, yet by translating the complexity of CIDOC-CRM to the nuances of the domain model at runtime. Along with templates and knowledge patterns--the semantic tools made available by ResearchSpace--we further extend the platform's core functions, working around their limitations, to integrate external sources like OpenStreetMap and Zotero, in the Mapping Sacred Spaces project. The resulting workflow supports the generation of interoperable Linked Data from the outset, offering reusable modeling patterns and methodological insights applicable to other projects working with structured art history data.
Preventive and planned conservation: an algorithm for the analysis and evaluation of degradation phenomena in Cultural Heritage
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Improta, Ilaria; Lanzara, Emanuela; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This research presents an algorithm for the assessment of deterioration risks and the planning of preventive conservation actions. The proposed system is based on systematic collection and analysis of key parameters, including the type of support, conservation history, restoration techniques, environmental conditions and other factors that may influence the material stability of Cultural Heritage over time. The methodological approach involves several phases: data collection, risk factor analysis, assignment of reference values to each significant variable and graphic visualization of conservation status and associated risk level through chromatic gradients. The algorithm enables the calculation of an overall risk score through a weighted evaluation system that integrates mathematical equations with a scoring approach reflecting the relative importance of each parameter. Currently implemented as an Excel®-based application, the system is designed to be accessible to restorers and conservation professionals in interoperability with integrated advanced digital ecosystems/Information systems (BIM/HBIM-CAD and VPL). Visual parametric representation facilitates communication of complex information. As a dynamic and scenario-driven tool, the algorithm requires regular updates to maintain its effectiveness across varying environmental and conservation contexts. The algorithm has been tested on a sample of artworks restored and monitored over the past five years, including significant works by Titian, Lorenzo Lotto and Luca Giordano. These case studies, museum collections, historic interiors and open-air monuments, have allowed for the verification of the system's ability to detect vulnerabilities and support tailored preventive conservation strategies. All data, analyses, and results are systematically recorded and managed within a dedicated information framework to ensure traceability and continuity of conservation management. The experimental application has confirmed the validity of the structured data-driven approach in identifying critical issues, prioritizing conservation actions and supporting informed decision-making.
Filling the gap. The Challenge of loss and two outcomes of the Mapping Sacred Spaces Project
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Longo, Ruggero; Scirocco, Elisabetta; Gianandrea, Manuela; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
The Mapping Sacred Spaces Project addresses the reconstruction of medieval sacred architecture in Southern Italy, with a particular focus on the critical loss of liturgical furnishings and their contextual significance. Through the transformative power of digital humanities, this project embraces interdisciplinary approaches to effectively fill the gaps left by historical damage and the passage of time. Employing advanced digital methodologies, the project meticulously recreates and analyses the interactions between space, objects, and ritual practices, thereby dramatically enhancing our understanding of the region's rich artistic and cultural heritage. Significantly, hermeneutic and heuristic issues arise in creating digital models that aim to fill in gaps. Two case studies pertaining to the Monreale Cathedral and the Abbey Church of Montecassino exhibit both the potential and the limits of digital approaches.
A Knowledge Graph for Andean Ritual Heritage: Structuring the Chunchada Dance in Honor of the Virgin of Rosario (Paucartambo, Peru)
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Meza, Dina Cornejo; Zúñiga, Javier Vera; Cuadros, Carmen Gutiérrez; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
We present a knowledge graph to document the Chunchada-a women-led ritual dance in honor of the Virgin of Rosario in Paucartambo, Peru. Using oral testimonies, archival data, and AI-based extraction, we reveal ritual relations through graph analysis and community curation. The project exemplifies a hybrid approach to intangible heritage preservation, combining graph mining and community-driven data curation to facilitate both academic insight and public engagement.
Corpus-Based SKOS Development for Underrepresented and Endangered Ukrainian Epigraphic Heritage
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Tamrazyan, Hamest; Boros, Emanuela; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This paper presents a corpus-based methodology for developing SKOS vocabularies tailored to Ukrainian epigraphy. Grounded in local academic traditions, the framework focuses on three domains: Inscriptions, Types of Inscriptions, and Execution Techniques. Terms were extracted using NLP tools and analyzed through a form/content/function and material/tool/method model. While the vocabulary is still in development, the classification framework is complete. It reflects regional epistemologies while ensuring interoperability with FAIR and EAGLE ontologies. This project contributes to digital heritage practices by promoting culturally sensitive, scalable classification of inscriptions from conflict-affected or historically marginalized contexts.
Digital Heritage 2025: Frontmatter
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
From HBIM to Digital Twins: An Interoperable Framework for Semantic Knowledge Integration and Dynamic Monitoring of Historic Buildings
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Becker, Sabrina; Niño, Laura Valderrama; Rüppel, Uwe; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) has established itself as a promising approach for the digital documentation and management of cultural heritage. However, there remain fundamental challenges in terms of semantic depth, interoperability, and the dynamic updatability of such models. This paper proposes a multi-layered framework that integrates a geometry-based HBIM model with ontological knowledge representation, external linked data sources, and sensor-based monitoring. Based on open standards such as IFC, ifcOWL, and CIDOC CRM, a concept for a semantically enriched digital twin is developed, which processes both static information and dynamic environmental and condition data. The framework enables context-based analyses, predictive conservation strategies, and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. Using a prototype framework, methodological advantages, technological challenges, and future development fields are discussed. The paper thus contributes an integrative impulse to the further development of data-driven, sustainable heritage conservation within the context of digital cultural heritage infrastructures.
3D Autonomous Agents for Virtual Heritage
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Hegarty, Zackary; Guidi, Gabriele; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This paper presents a novel methodology for integrating agent-based modeling (ABM) into virtual heritage, with a focus on simulating human behavior within philologically grounded 3D reconstructions of ancient spaces. Whereas traditional digital heritage projects have prioritized visual accuracy in architectural reconstructions, our approach introduces an experimental dimension by treating these virtual environments as testbeds for behavioral hypotheses. Drawing on advances in complex systems research, we propose a simulation framework that leverages symbolic artificial intelligence to generate emergent crowd behaviors under diverse historical, architectural, and social conditions. We outline a general methodological workflow for implementing ABM in virtual heritage using Unity3D with any reconstructive 3D model, and we illustrate this approach with examples from a previously published case study. This work contributes to the growing field of simulation-based research, promoting the use of complexity theory methodologies as a valuable epistemological tool in cultural heritage scholarship.
Infrared Reflectography of the Madonna con Bambino, San Pietro Martire e San Giovannino by Lorenzo Lotto
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Improta, Ilaria; Marra, Maristella; Vitulli, Sara; Zaccaria, Alessia; Peluso, Sabrina; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This study presents the results of the diagnostic imaging analyses conducted on the panel painting Madonna con Bambino, San Pietro Martire e San Giovannino by Lorenzo Lotto, specifically infrared (IR) reflectography and false-color infrared (IRFC) imaging. These investigations allowed for the examination of the layers beneath the pictorial surface and provided preliminary insights into the pigments employed by the artist. Infrared reflectography revealed previously unseen images of the underdrawing, uncovering significant compositional changes. False-colour infrared imaging contributed to the reconstruction of the artist's palette, confirming the use of high-quality pigments, indicative of a prestigious commission. The integration of non-invasive diagnostic techniques and historical-artistic research provided essential insights into the artist's painting method, contributing - through a multidisciplinary approach - to the interpretation of the first dated artwork within Lorenzo Lotto's pictorial corpus.
Monitoring Cultural Heritage in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: The Mission and Methods of Cultural Heritage Watch (CHW)
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Smith, Adam T.; Lindsay, Ian; Khatchadourian, Lori; Ghulyan, Husik; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This paper discusses satellite-based monitoring of cultural heritage sites in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the South Caucasus, which for decades has been the center of a long-simmering territorial and ethnic conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Following the ceasefire that concluded the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in fall 2020, the co-authors formed CHW to address the lack of evidence- based documentation of past and present abuses of cultural heritage in this intractable conflict.
Digitisation of the Plaster Casts of Lia and Rachele from the Tomb of Julius II by Michelangelo: Methodological Workflow for Data Collection and Photogrammetric Acquisition Processes
(The Eurographics Association, 2025) Vaccari, Giulia; Grimaudo, Giovanni; Niccolai, Federico; Ciani, Juri; Campana, Stefano; Ferdani, Daniele; Graf, Holger; Guidi, Gabriele; Hegarty, Zackary; Pescarin, Sofia; Remondino, Fabio
This article describes the process for the digitisation through photogrammetric acquisition of the plaster casts of Lia and Rachele from Julius II, located inside the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, Italy. Preserved at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence (ABAFi), these casts have historical and educational significance and are a distinctive feature of a unique institution. The study aims to develop a photogrammetric acquisition that incorporates innovative practices using accessible tools within an academic setting. A protocol has been organized into phases to plan, manage, and standardise the digitisation of ABAFi's sculptural heritage.

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