Semantic and procedural approaches in generative modeling for the representation of cultural heritage

The development of different types of digital representations has shifted the designer’s attention from the morphological description of the object to the associative relationships of the parts that compose it. The integration between different models has therefore become a central and critical activity. It is precisely in the integrated and simultaneous reading of ideal models of digital form that the contribution to the knowledge and transmission of a cultural asset could be provided. The present essay proposes a critical analysis of the use of generative procedural models applied to the digital representation of cultural heritage to analyze the potential of procedural models for integration with qualitatively different models. The proposed case study is the Arch of Titus in Rome, characterized by a strong sculptural and architectural value. For this reason, it appeared to be a particularly significant case study for developing an experimental investigation about integrated digital modeling.