An integrated computational approach for heritage monumental museums

This paper discusses and presents a workflow for the processing of the geometrical information obtained from point clouds data, through BIM (Building Information Model) implementation and geometric object-oriented modelling, for FE (Finite Element) structural analysis. The methodology includes two important phases for the construction of a full HBIM (Heritage BIM), namely: i) the transformation of the point cloud data into a BIM, and ii) the transition from the geometric model to a FE Model. The proposed semi-automatic process allows to explicitly export all the geometric elements with structural relevance; a software chain is proposed between the Rhinoceros 3D geometric editor, able to handle the complex geometries of historical buildings (such as double curvature surfaces, non-perpendicular faces, etc.), and the Salome_Meca open source platform for structural analysis. The workflow, the software chain and the BIM related procedures here proposed as a general approach are discussed with reference to a specific and emblematic monumental masonry building: the Museum of the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. This case study is particularly relevant due to its intrinsic geometrical complexities which cover almost all the issues existing in a historic structure.