Establishing Frameworks for 3D Virtual Reconstruction: Insights from the CoVHer MOOC

The widespread adoption of 3D digital modelling for the study and communication of historical architecture, particularly buildings that have been destroyed, lost, or never constructed, has significantly influenced both academic research and public engagement. Despite this increasing production of hypothetical virtual reconstructions, such models are still rarely regarded as scholarly objects. They are often disseminated only through derivative outputs (such as renderings, videos, or brief descriptions), lacking transparent documentation, shared methodological standards, and explicit evidence of interpretative reasoning. The CoVHer MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), developed as part of the Erasmus+project Computer-based Visualisation of Architectural Cultural Heritage (CoVHer, 2021-1-IT02-KA220-HED-000031190, 2022–2025), addresses this gap by offering a structured interdisciplinary methodology for the creation, documentation, validation, and reuse of scientific 3D models of architectural heritage. The MOOC emphasises that 3D models, especially those reconstructing vanished or never-built structures, must be grounded in transparent workflows and supported by comprehensive evidentiary, technical, and conceptual documentation to be recognised as valid scholarly outputs. This paper presents the CoVHer project with a focus on the design, content, and research contribution of its MOOC. It also introduces key methodological concepts developed within the project, including a refined classification of 3D model types used in hypothetical virtual reconstructions. By integrating theoretical principles, practical guidelines, and applied case studies, the CoVHer initiative contributes to the establishment of shared standards for digital reconstruction and supports a more critical, rigorous, and transparent approach to the representation of Europe’s architectural past.