Conceptual modelling and cognitive process in 3D virtual reconstruction. 3D virtual reconstruction, 3D semantic segmentation, conceptual modeling, knowledge representation

The progresses in ICT brought, within the virtual reconstruction of cultural heritage activity, new theoretical problems related to the interpretation of the meaning (Metadata) and of construction methods (provenance and Paradata) related to information/sources in form of digital 3D data sets. The base for a scientific approach concerns the conceptual modelling and cognitive process in 3D virtual reconstruction. The paper is focused on its theoretical definition as well as on proposing a methodological approach to data modeling behind the 3D reconstructive process. A proper conceptual modeling of the process of virtual reconstruction becomes of fundamental importance in order to take into account all the aspects that come into play: subjectivity, ontic and epistemic vagueness. The workflow and the methodology are related to the whole of the acquired and used to produce not only the 3D model, but above all the semantic characterization and enrichment of the elements that compose the model. They are based on these operational pipeline steps: 1. Subjective and temporal characterization 2. 3D virtual modeling 3. Semantic enrichment of 3D reconstructed model The methodological approach proposed, therefore, allows many types of analysis and could introduce new and meaningful innovations to the interpretation methods and techniques concerning architecture. It defines the conceptual model of data that is the basis of the reconstruction process, as well as it provides the appropriate degree of transparency of the adopted process, allowing all researchers to re-think that process in order to qualify the outcome obtained and to propose, based on new knowledge or interpretations, new reconstructive hypotheses.