THEMATIC SESSION #5

Digital Twin and Smart Virtual Representations for Cultural Heritage

ORGANIZED BY

bucciero.jpg Alberto Bucciero

Alberto Bucciero

CNR ISPC - Lecce

greco.jpg Matteo Greco

Matteo Greco

CNR ISPC - Lecce

gatto.jpg Carola Gatto

Carola Gatto

University of Salento - Lecce

faggiano.jpg Federica Faggiano

Federica Faggiano

Sapienza University - Rome

ABSTRACT

Digital twins are transforming the preservation and management of cultural heritage by enabling real-time monitoring, simulation, and predictive analysis. This thematic session will explore cutting-edge applications of digital twin technologies and broader virtual representations in the cultural heritage sector. Virtual representations, encompassing digital twins, 3D models, and immersive environments, serve as powerful tools for bridging the physical and digital realms. These technologies support efforts ranging from reconstructing ancient sites and artifacts to restoration, education, and enhancing visitor experiences. Contributions to the session will highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining advanced computational methods, material science, artificial intelligence, and heritage studies. Participants will discuss challenges such as data integration, accuracy, scalability, and ethical considerations in implementing virtual representations for heritage conservation. The session aims to foster a dialogue between researchers, technologists, and cultural heritage practitioners to envision innovative solutions for safeguarding and experiencing our shared cultural legacy.

KEYWORDS

  • Digital Twin
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Virtual Representations
  • Immersive Technologies
  • Heritage Conservation and Preservation
  • Predictive Analysis
  • Real-Time Monitoring
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Data Integration

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

Alberto Bucciero is a researcher at the National Research Council (CNR) and works at the Institute for Cultural Heritage Sciences (ISPC). He graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Lecce in 2002 (110/110) and obtained, in 2008, the PhD in Information Engineering with the thesis "A Framework to Generate Heterogeneous Collaborative Web Environments".
His research activities are mainly focused on the design of collaboration-oriented software architectures, interoperability and heterogeneous systems’ integration, big data management and fairness, context awareness for mobile and desktop systems and real time geographical information systems.
He is co-founder and scientific coordinator of the DHILab - Digital Heritage Innovation Laboratory for the Lecce branch of the CNR-ISPC Institute and of the DIGILAB italian node of the E-RHIS - European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science research infrastructure.

Matteo Greco is currently coordinator of the Digilab-IT software platform development group for the implementation of the Heritage Digital Twin management platform for the Italian node of the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science E-RIHS.
He is a computer engineer and technologist at the Italian National Research Council, Institute of Heritage Science (CNR ISPC), and a member of the Digital Heritage Innovation Lab (DHILab) of CNR ISPC in Lecce specialized in the design, development, and production of multimedia systems and interactive experiences spanning different platforms and contexts, from extended reality (VR, AR, XR) to video games, and web and management systems. Additionally, he sets-up and manages complex hw/sw systems and CNC machines

Carola Gatto is postdoc researcher at the Augmented and Virtual Reality Laboratory (AVR Lab), of Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento. She graduated magna cum laude with a master’s degree in European Heritage, Digital Media and the Information Society at the University of Salento in A.Y. 2017/2018.
In 2023, she received a PhD in Cultural Heritage Sciences from the University of Salento, with a research project focused on digital curation and transformation in the museum field.
She is the author of several scientific publications in the field of eXtended Reality for Cultural Heritage. She is part of the ICOM Italian team “Multimedia and Emerging Technologies”. She is coordinator of the Young researchers group at the Digital Humanities Centre of the University of Salento.

Federica Faggiano is a PhD student in Heritage Science at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. She gained research experience as a research fellow at the AVR Lab (Augmented and Virtual Reality Laboratory) in the Department of Innovation Engineering at the University of Salento from 2022 to 2024, contributing to projects focused on enhancing and improving access to cultural heritage.
She holds a master’s degree with honours in European Cultural Heritage, Digital Media, and the Information Society and a bachelor’s degree with honours in Technologies for Cultural Heritage, both from the University of Salento.
She is currently committed to making cultural heritage more inclusive, accessible, and engaging through the use of technology. Her research interests focus on Digital Humanities, with a particular emphasis on digital curation and the accessibility of cultural contexts using innovative technologies.

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