From 3D surveying to replica, a resource for the valorisation of museum artifacts. the case of the bas-relief of Giovanni da Legnano in Bologna

This paper describes the experience carried out by the Geomatics group of the DICAM Dept. (Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering) of the University of Bologna, in collaboration with the Civic Medieval Museum, about the digitization and reproduction by 3D printing of the bas-relief of Giovanni da Legnano. This artwork is one of the symbols of the University of Bologna, the oldest of the western world, and consequently of all European academic tradition. In the text, the 3D surveying and physical reproduction operations of this object are described. The faithful copy of the object was presented in Brussels in 2017, on the occasion of the inauguration of the House of the European History.