the project
project acronym
CoVHer
programme
European Commission, Erasmus+, KA2 – Capacity building in the Field of Higher Education
partners
- Alma Mater Studiorum – Universita di Bologna
- Hochschule Mainz University of Applied Sciences
- Universidade do Porto
- Politechnika Warszawska
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Interessengemeinschaft für Semantische Datenverarbeitung E.V.
- La Tempesta: City, culture & technology
budget
369.583,00€
project duration
From 01-02-2022 to 31-01-2025
project No
2021-1-IT02-KA220-HED-000031190
disclaimer
The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
We want to support digital capabilities of the higher education sector and stimulate innovative learning and teaching practices. For those reasons we would like to achieve the following specific goals:
– Define applicable standards (documentation) and methods and common language/understanding (glossary) for the construction/evaluation of 3D models CVCH (Computer-based Visualisation of Architectural Cultural Heritage)
– Create a Repository of 3D models of CH (infrastructure for applying the standards and methods)
– Disseminate the CoVHer ideas in the academic and public world of CH.
The main specific objective of the project is to define applicative/practical guidelines and operational methodologies aimed at the study, the implementation, the visualization (including access), and the critical evaluation of the 3D models of artefacts that no longer exist or have never been built, in accordance with the Charter on the Preservation of Digital Heritage (UNESCO, 2003). The aim is to define a clear methodology for the creation and documentation of the CVCH model. The innovation of the proposed methodology lies in identifying practice guidelines and outlining the precise qualities that the 3D model must fulfil to reach scientific reference standards:
1) Constructive aspects: the geometry accuracy and qualification of the 3D models.
2) Traceability: use of sources, as well as documentation and quality of historical reconstruction.
3) Accessibility: compatibility with the publication on platforms/repositories. Interoperability: Data model exchange formats.
4) Visualization: graphic output to communicate scientific content throughout the 3D models. To describe these qualities, a detailed reference Glossary will be written up.
One of the critical issues of the current situation is the lack of a shared vocabulary referred to as hypothetical virtual 3D reconstruction. Furthermore, a digital repository will be developed to enhance the transmissibility of these models.
Currently, there are several internet platforms or projects (i.e., Inception-project Horizon 2020 https://www.inception- project.eu/en) with digital collections of the European architectural heritage. The innovation of our digital repository consists of being entirely dedicated to artefacts that have never been built or have been destroyed. The truly innovative and important aspect, compared to the existing platforms, will be how these three-dimensional models will be “presented” to experts and the public (Open Access). The goal is to create a digital 3D repository that can transmit, together with the finished product (3D model), also the essential information for the critical evaluation of the work. The platform, therefore, will have two different and complementary vocations. The first is being a reference place for scholars (architects, engineers, art historians, archaeologists, and other field experts) where they can share, download and study 3D reconstructions and the sources used to build them, with the emphasis on scientific correctness. The second is being a public repository accessible to laypersons (non-experts) and will contribute to the valorisation of the European architectural and cultural heritage.
Finally, the dissemination activity in the academic world and in the public world is an important goal of this project. The CoVHer project targets are the students and scholars of architecture, engineering, archaeology, restoration, history of art, professionals of CH and the public. Among the objectives is to create teaching modules of university courses dedicated exclusively to the virtual reconstructions of CH. Raising awareness among the academic world and the public on the possibility of scientifically reconstructing the past, through virtual reconstructions, is a way to increase the cultural and social cohesion of European citizens.
The project was designed to develop and test the proposed methodology in different ways: Architectural Drawing Workshop (ADW) + Online Courses and OER + Innovative didactic modules. The CoVHer project is based on a collaboration between partners from five different European countries (I, D, P, Po, S). This cooperation is partly guaranteed by the professionalism of the partners who have experience in international projects and collaborations.
The work will be divided into five phases accompanied by continuous monitoring of the activities, and collection of feedback for the improvement of the methodologies. For this reason, all partners will actively participate in all phases of the project.
The five phases are: a preparatory phase; three design phases (defining and testing the method) and a final stage to ensure sustainability.
– The preparatory phase will consist of: Each partner responsible for a different PRs must draw up a report indicating the timing and methods used to carry out the activities reported. These five reports will be discussed and commented on in the first TM (M1) to be held in Mainz. In this phase some local stakeholders will be involved.
– The first design phase (MM 2-12) will involve the start of the design activities of all PRs. The PR01 will start at M2 till M36; the PR02 M3 to M30; the PR03 M3 to M36; the PR04 M5 to M36 (C1 for staff). This first phase will conclude with the evaluation of the first ADW to be held in Porto (P). This workshop will allow us to test the methodologies and guidelines with students from five different countries. The 3D models made in the second PR02 and in the first ADW will have to be implemented in the CoVHer platform (PR03). This will allow verification of compliance with (sought) standards and the usability of the Platform by non-expert users.
– The second design phase (MM 10-20) will consist in making improvements to the various PRs started according to the feedback and analyses collected. In this sense, the evaluation of students and stakeholders will be fundamental to understand the progress of the project, that is, the definition of shared and communicable standards and procedures. This information will be used to prepare the second ADW (C3) to be held in Bologna (I, M19) and to prepare the online lessons and teaching modules (PR04).
– The third design phase (MM 21-32) will be dedicated to the creation of the Online Courses and to the Innovative Didactic Modules (PR04). The first OC entirely dedicated to 3D CVCH models of never built or destroyed architectures will be implemented. Furthermore, IDM will be created within the degree courses of the main partners.
– The final sustainability phase of the project (MM 33-36) will be dedicated largely to the dissemination and publication of the results achieved by the project. Communication and dissemination will start from the first day of the project and will continue throughout the whole project with various activities such as MEs and constant updating of the project website. In the final phase the Scientific Reference Glossary and the Manual Book with guidelines and methodologies / standards for the construction of CVCH 3D Models will be completed and published as a book (PR01).
In addition, the partners will endeavour to support the CoVHer Platform Repository and the site with the EORs with a coordinated maintenance plan (PR03, PR04). The CoVHer platform will be the main means of publishing and transmitting the project results. PRs and Teaching and Learning activities will be accompanied throughout the project by five public Multiplier Events which will aim to disseminate and collect feedback from users outside the project: scholars from other universities, students, professionals in the sector (stakeholders) and ordinary citizens.