Historical, Architectural, and Structural Virtual Tour for Conservation and Maintenance of Architectural Heritage

The Virtual Tour (VT) represents a key tool used in valorising and disseminating the historical and cultural value of built heritage. Basically, it has potential in supporting interdisciplinary technical activities associated with the historical and architectural aspects related to documentation and conservation. This paper defines the methodological lines into expanding the potentialities of the VT in the framework of a rational technical management and maintenance of historical assets from the Authorities. Thus, in addition to basic information related to historical and architectonical aspects, engineering technical data collected during the knowledge path recommended by relevant National and International codes, dealing with static and seismic performance assessment and the conceptual design of structural interventions, have been included in the VT. The designed STRAINS-VT (hiSToRical, ArchItectural aNd Structural–Virtual Tour) is conceived as a dynamic approach supporting the knowledge and monitoring of valuable assets in time, being open to updates and integration. Benefits associated with the application of the proposed STRAINS-VT have been investigated referring to a real architectural heritage building located in Abruzzi Region (Italy). Research outcomes showed that the knowledge process, which goes from the digital integrated survey and the in-situ structural characterization of materials and components to the analysis and design of structural interventions, can be profitably incorporated within the VT. Particularly, the STRAINS-VT operational framework represents an accessible and easy interpretable informative hub that support technical Authorities having in charge the conservation, maintenance, and restoration of valuable assets in the decision-making, validation, and commissioning of strengthening and maintenance works.