From a multidisciplinary analysis to HBIM: Tools for the digital documentation of historical buildings

Starting from the assumption that a building, whether monumental or representative of the minor constructions that characterize the inner areas of our country, is the result of actions carried out over time, the knowledge process becomes necessary as well as preparatory to protection, conservation, and enhancement interventions. Different disciplines have been confronting each other for years regarding the knowledge of historic buildings, so much so that we can consider the issue interdisciplinary. The chapter deals with the role of digital technologies in the knowledge of historical constructions aimed at supporting interdisciplinary analyses for documentation, preservation, and structural maintenance. It is mainly focused on the Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment that is labeled Historical (HBIM) when applied to the large archaeological, historical, and architectural heritage. Some remarks on opportunities and barriers to the HBIM large-scale use are reported based on the experiences made by the authors.