A prototype methodology for acoustic heritage preservation: integrating H-BIM and legal frameworks for the protection of intangible cultural assets

• The paper proposes a methodology for preserving acoustic footprints in cultural heritage sites. • Combines acoustic measurements and psychoacoustic evaluations for church auditory experiences. • RT30 and STI parameters account for 81 % of variance in acoustic quality ratings. • Integrates acoustic data into Heritage BIM to protect tangible and intangible heritage. • Tests methodology on the historic Church in Giulianova, validating practical applications. This study explores a potential approach to documenting the acoustic characteristics of sacred spaces through the integration of acoustic and psychoacoustic analysis and Heritage Building Information Modeling (H-BIM) tested on the S. Flaviano Church. While traditional Building Information Modeling (BIM) typically focuses on contemporary architecture, this research investigates how H-BIM methodologies can be adapted to help document acoustic features that contribute to the experience of historical religious buildings. The proposed methodology attempts to combine psychoacoustic data with objective acoustic measurements to explore ways to capture the acoustic environment of sacred spaces. In this study, acoustic objective measurements and subjective ratings from 41 attendees during a Sunday service were collected. The results revealed significant correlations between the subjective impressions and objective parameters. Specifically, subjective ratings of reverberation aligned moderately with RT30 measurements (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), and speech intelligibility ratings correlated with STI values (r = 0.55, p < 0.01). The overall acoustic quality rating was found to be influenced by both RT30 and STI, with multiple regression analysis indicating that these parameters collectively accounted for approximately 81 % of the variance in acoustic quality ratings. The integration of acoustic data into the H-BIM model represents an initial exploration towards developing documentation practices that not only consider material aspects but also immaterial aspects such as acoustic characteristics. This preliminary study aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion on preserving the various aspects of cultural heritage in sacred spaces. This research is part of the broader national research initiative funded by PRIN 2022 PNRR ‘The Sound in the Digital Era: Spaces, Identity, Rights and Culture (SoundSIRC)’ , which recognizes the significance of acoustic heritage preservation in the Italian cultural context.