Immersive design and new digital competences for the rehabilitation and valorization of the built heritage: Opportunities, threats, risk management

This paper summarizes ID4Ex project, focusing on immersive design and digital technologies for heritage rehabilitation. It addresses the vital challenge of preserving and rehabilitating built heritage, a reflection of society’s architectural and cultural history. The project leverages immersive design, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), to enhance rehabilitation processes and broaden heritage accessibility. ID4Ex emphasizes upgrading training programs, enhancing teaching effectiveness, synergizing modern technologies, and promoting cooperation among educational institutions and enterprises. Key outputs include comparative research on VR technologies, training modules, a digital toolkit, and a report on pilot actions. Immersive design, a cutting-edge approach in civil engineering and architecture, creates immersive environments, enriching the rehabilitation of heritage buildings. It enables highly detailed 3D models for virtual heritage visits and accurate 3D models for renovation plans, enhancing visitor engagement and streamlining restoration efforts. However, potential threats include overreliance on technology, risking the loss of traditional craftsmanship, and concerns about data security and privacy. To mitigate these risks, multidisciplinary teams, extensive training, and robust risk management are imperative. In the broadest context, the ID4Ex project extends the frontiers of heritage preservation and immersive technologies, impacting cultural education, tourism, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The project fosters innovation equips professionals with digital competencies, and promotes the collaborative conservation of our architectural and cultural heritage.