Modelling and managing built heritage knowledge. An ontology-based approach for multi-layered archaeologies and historical production process representation

Classical and industrial archaeologies are a complex cultural field where singularity and uniqueness are expressed through past memory evidence and identity recognition. In order to obtain these values acknowledgement, it is compelling to highlight the material and intangible knowledge by using suitable ICT tools capable of handling complexity and managing large sets of heterogeneous data usually subjected to changes, different interpretations, inconsistencies and sometimes uncertainty. Although the HBIM method has been largely used in the past years, it shows significant limits when dealing with large and heterogeneous information requiring the introduction of advanced methods and tools. In this context, this study presents an approach to the architectural heritage and historical manufacturing activity representation based on integrating the HBIM process with a structured knowledge base, demonstrated through its application to the Sanctuary of Hercules and the former Segrè Papermill case study. The work develops an ontology-based system using existing ontologies for the three domains of interest: architectural artefact, cultural heritage and industrial processes directly connected with the informative model. The intent is to give an overall support system for the complex semantics formalization of these assets to aid the interpretation, intervention and valorization activities.