Database and network technology for open hypermedia interactive application development

The paper presents a methodology for an open Hypermedia Interactive Application System in the field of Historic Buildings. The methodology aims at enhancing the cultural value of historical buildings by offering students, visitors and experts an appealing and integrated overview, including some aspects which are often neglected. . Both the methodology and its technological support tools provide a wide choice of reference categories and related data [building materials, historical information, environmental setting and risks, building and restoration techniques, etc.]. In addition, the system can be extended with new instances of data on buildings, construction materials etc. It is also highly flexible in that it can be used for instance for didactic and specialistic purposes, for historical and artistic analyses, and as an aid for restoration projects. These results are obtained through the integration of database, hypermedia and network technologies which allow: (i) independence between data and presentation procedures; (ii) data "aggregation' around a wealth of categories and reference elements (eg buildings, monuments, building materials, environmental risk); (iii) system extendibility so that new instances of elements can be introduced; (iv) 3D displays for didactic purposes; (v) wide range of potential users and uses; (vi) data re-use, access to various network archives; all leading to a reduction in the costs of collecting, issuing and managing data.