Heritage documentation and visualization through Geomatics and XR technologies - experimenting Mixed Reality on the so-called Theodoric Palace in Ravenna.

The documentation and visualization of cultural heritage sites have become increasingly important in preserving architectural history and making it accessible to wider audiences. In this context, this study focuses on the so-called Theodoric Palace historical site in Ravenna, integrating Geomatics and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies to reconstruct and visualize its historical transformations digitally. By employing Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), drone based and close-range photogrammetry, a high-resolution 3D digital model of the remaining structure’s façade has been developed with millimeter-level accuracy. A key innovation of this research is implementing Mixed Reality (MR), enabling users to superimpose a historical drawing and photos onto the current structure through real-time interaction with a MR headset. This immersive experience enhances the engagement with cultural heritage, providing an interactive tool for researchers, conservationists, and the public. The challenges include aligning fragmented historical data with modern digital models, optimizing computational resources for real-time rendering, and ensuring spatial accuracy in MR visualizations. This research demonstrates that the combination of Geomatics and MR can assist heritage documentation, offering new ways to study, interpret, and preserve architectural history. Future work aims to expand the methodology beyond the façade, creating a complete 3D model of the entire building for a more comprehensive historical reconstruction. However, as seen in this thesis, the potential of integrating geomatic data with MR interactive visualization can be numerous, and future research should focus on investigating these possibilities in the realm of heritage conservation.