CoVHer: Computer-based Visualization of Architectural Cultural Heritage (MOOC course)

Today, the use of 3D models to reconstruct the architecture of the past has become an important means of study and communication. The main objective of this course is to provide a transparent and shared methodology for creating and validating these 3D models. Often, scholars share architectural, archaeological, and historical studies through papers or books that only contain descriptions and figures of these 3D models; in some cases, animated videos can also be watched. However, the 3D model is almost never shared as an object of scientific study. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, engaging scholars from various disciplines: architects, engineers, architectural and art historians, restorers, archaeologists, and industry professionals. The course is aimed at scholars and enthusiasts who wish to study certain aspects of the world of virtual reconstructions of buildings that have been lost or were never built. Topics addressed include the concept of models in general and digital 3D models; definitions of digital representation methods and 3D modelling techniques; the concept of transparent documentation and communication of data and results; the use of an online platform as a shared archive of 3D models, etc. The course was conceived and implemented within the CoVHer project (2021-1-IT02-KA220-HED-000031190) coordinated by the University of Bologna, with the main partners being four other European universities and two private companies: Hochschule Mainz University of Applied Sciences (DE), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES), Politechnika Warszawska (PL), Faculdade de Arquitectura Universidade do Porto (PT), Interessengemeinschaft für Semantische Datenverarbeitung E.V. (DE), La Tempesta: City, Culture & Technology (ES). The course is structured over four weeks. Each week is organised into several lessons covering different topics. Each lesson includes a brief video lecture, a series of units that synthetically illustrate the most important concepts, and a list of bibliographic references for further study.