Introduction

Abstract

This monographic issue of ArcHistoR, developed from the HPFC – Historic Preservation Foundation Classes conference (Bologna, 2023) within the PRIN 2017 research project, examines the opportunities and limitations of HBIM and GIS systems for representing, conserving, and protecting the built heritage. Central to the volume is the theme of interoperability among heterogeneous digital languages. In the context of Italy’s ongoing digital transformation of public administration and the progressive adoption of BIM in public procurement, these tools are seen as strategic for informed conservation planning and higher-quality interventions. Their capacity to integrate, manage, and interpolate complex data sets opens new scenarios for preventive conservation, although critical issues remain when technologies conceived for new construction are applied uncritically to historical buildings. 

The volume is articulated in two parts. The first presents methodological reflections and experimental results by the PRIN 2017 research units of Milan, Genoa, Rome, and Bologna, spanning architectural to urban scales. Topics include modeling and data organization, semantic web ontologies for conservation processes, interoperability between HBIM and GIS, and risk assessment frameworks deriving from the Italian Carta del Rischio. The second part gathers further projects in the HBIM domain that fostered exchange with the PRIN research, including the 4CH Competence Centre and new initiatives toward a Heritage Digital Twin ontology.