Re-Loading BIM: Between Spatial and Database Information Modeling for Architectural Heritage Documentation

Building Information Modelling was born for the design of new buildings. Then it has grown as an interesting technology for the studying of architectural heritage. Several researches aim to realize BIMs from surveying data – in particular point clouds – collected using laser scanning, photogrammetry or other traditional survey instruments (HBIM). Other works focus on BIM in order to support the information management during the investigation and the restoration phases (BHIM - Built Heritage Information Modeling). According to this line, this research deals with the opportunity of collecting and managing not only the geometric-dimensional data, but also the huge quantity of historical and recent documents related to built heritage. Indeed, documentation includes many heterogeneous and critical aspects and information, such as drawings, images, or digital models, or analysis on construction materials and technologies, surface degradation, historical building phases, building conservation state, etc. The paper proposes an approach for architectural heritage documentation and safeguard, with the aim to improve BIM potentiality for information computing. BIM model – according to its semantization – is related to an information system and, in this way, 3-D modeling and database modeling are the two sides of a Complex Model for the knowledge of historical buildings.