A complex virtual system for the management and visualization of bridge data

The management of infrastructural heritage is a central issue not only to research but also to governments wishing to conserve the state of artefacts and ensuring their safe use. The implementation of procedures for assessing the physical state of structures has increased after the recent catastrophic events causing extensive damage to national and international infrastructures. The results of the knowledge-gathering process are in the form of a quantity of data obtained using a multidisciplinary approach, and essential for defining operational procedures from a safety and conservation perspective. This paper deals with the digitization and management of heterogeneous data through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to engineering and architecture with a specific focus on historical bridges. The paper discusses the results of experimentation aimed at defining an information system based on Virtual Reality (VR) for data visualization and exploitation.