Handbook of Digital 3D Reconstruction of Historical Architecture (Synthesis Lectures on Engineers, Technology, & Society, 28)

In research on architectural history, digital 3D reconstructions have been used for more than 30 years as knowledge carriers, research tools, and means of representation. The number of digital reconstructions created has increased continuously in recent years, yet they exhibit highly varying technical, graphical, and content-related qualities. This raises the question of criteria and approaches to evaluate and validate the use of models, tools, and results. In view of this, the use of digital reconstruction methods in architec- tural history research has always been subject to ambivalence. Impressive applications and potential areas for research are contrasted by a whole series of extremely justified scientific and methodological reservations.Between 2018 and 2022, thanks to funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), 14 network members from Germany, Italy, and Austria have been working on the Digital 3D Reconstructions as Tools for Research in Architectural History network on the question of how 3D reconstructions can methodically and validly advance our knowledge of historical architecture and what conditions are conducive to this.This handbook is intended to make these results available to students, experts, and other interested parties who wish to study the digital 3D reconstruction of historical architecture in more detail. It should serve as a guide for students to get a thematic overview and practical insight. The book provides answers to two core questions: What is a digital 3D reconstruction? How are they created and what are they used for? Practical instructions, condensed knowledge, explanations of technical terms and example projects, literature, and further references provide information of varying density and enable an individual introduction to the topic. Editors’ Foreword References Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 A Brief History of 3D Reconstruction 1.2 Examples of 3D Reconstruction Projects References 2 Basics and Definitions 2.1 Architectural History 2.2 Reconstruction 2.3 Sources 2.4 Models and Modeling 2.5 The Architectural Model 2.6 Computer-Based 3D Modeling 2.6.1 3D as Reference to Space 2.6.2 Digital Versus Virtual 2.6.3 Reconstruction Versus Digitalization 2.7 Simulation References 3 Scholarly Method 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Purposes of 3D Modeling 3.2.1 Research 3.2.2 Education 3.2.3 Knowledge Organization 3.3 Epistemic Challenges of 3D Modeling in Humanities 3.4 Visual Research Processes and 3D Modeling 3.5 Scientific Values 3.6 Guidelines and Standards for 3D Reconstruction References 4 Scholarly Community 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Disciplines Which Benefit from the Method 4.2.1 Visual Approaches in the Humanities 4.2.2 Visual Digital Humanities 4.3 Scholars and Topic Areas 4.4 Scholarly Culture References 5 Workflows 5.1 The Process of 3D Reconstruction 5.2 Interdisciplinarity 5.3 Modeling the Project Process 5.4 3D Reconstructions as Interdisciplinary Projects 5.5 3D Reconstruction Project Management 5.5.1 Definition of Project Work 5.5.2 Project Organization 5.5.3 Goals 5.5.4 Planning and Control 5.5.5 Quality 5.5.6 Quality Management 5.6 Phenomena and Strategies for Cooperation References 6 3D Modeling 6.1 The Raw Model and the Informative Model 6.2 Semantic Description of the 3D Model 6.3 Traditional and Digital Representation Methods 6.4 3D Modeling Techniques 6.4.1 Procedural and Algorithmic Modeling 6.4.2 Parametric Modeling 6.4.3 Automatic Reality-Based Modeling 6.4.4 Direct Handmade Modeling 6.4.5 Hybrid Modeling 6.5 Configuration Space 6.6 Best Practices References 7 Visualization 7.1 From Digits to Visuals 7.2 Digital 2D-3D Visualization 7.3 Aspects of Digital 3D Visualization 7.4 Formal/Geometrical Aspects 7.5 Shading Aspects 7.5.1 Photorealistic Shading 7.6 Abstract Shading 7.7 Representation Aspects and Methods 7.8 Media and Interfaces 7.8.1 Images and Films 7.8.2 Extended Reality 7.8.3 Rapid Prototyping 7.8.4 Interaction and Motivational Design References 8 Documentation 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Why Documentation is Important 8.2.1 Scientific Significance 8.2.2 Preliminary Work 8.2.3 Current Developments 8.3 What Are We Dealing With 8.3.1 Model Types, Methods, and Data Formats 8.3.2 Intellectual Argumentation 8.4 What Needs to be Documented 8.4.1 Documentation of the 3D Models: Metadata 8.4.2 Documentation of the Decision-Making Processes: Paradata 8.5 How to Document References 9 Infrastructure 9.1 Digital Research Tools and Services 9.2 Virtual Research Environments 9.3 3D Information Systems 9.4 Design Challenges in 3D Information Systems 9.5 Linked and Authority Data References 10 Legislation 10.1 Intellectual Property 10.2 Legal Aspects 10.3 Licenses: Open, Closed, or Public? References This open access book is a handbook for students, experts and interested parties who want to learn more about digital 3D reconstruction of historical architecture. The book provides answers to the core questions of the subject: What is a digital 3D model or a digital 3D reconstruction? How are they created and what are they used for? Practical instructions, condensed knowledge, explanations of technical terms and references to example projects, literature and further references provide information of varying density and thus enable an individual introduction to the subject. The book combines extensive knowledge on the topic of "digital 3D reconstruction of historical architecture" and provides practical instructions for independent implementation. Up to now, there has been no cross-disciplinary vocabulary for technical terms in this field, so this publication makes a start. The book is aimed at students, experts in the field and the interested public and offers various possibilities for the different target groups to delve deeply into the subject. The book was created within the research network "Digital 3D Reconstruction as Tools for Research in Architectural History," which was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) from 2018 to 2023. The authors combined their expertise in the fields of art and architectural history, architecture, university teaching and media informatics.