From Integrated Survey to Semantically-Enriched Models: An H-BIM Pipeline for Developing Descriptive Systems to Understand Architectural Heritage

Abstract. The paper presents an operational methodology based on the interaction between digital survey, point cloud segmentation, formal encoding, and parametric modelling, applied to three fortified portals associated with the work of Michele Sanmicheli and his cultural legacy. From photogrammetric and laser scanning surveys, the point clouds were subjected to macro- and micro-segmentation processes, to encode architectural types according to compositional and hierarchical logics. The subsequent parametric modelling is grounded in the abstraction of profiles and the construction of nested families within a BIM environment, encoded and structured according to the principles of Sanmichelian architecture. Through a systematic comparison between ideal models and surveyed reality, it was possible to adapt geometries to the specificities of the built elements, while preserving their original proportional rules. Integrating topologically complex meshes through visual programming techniques enabled the accurate representation of decorative features. The results highlight the potential of this operational methodology in constructing flexible, proportionally coherent information systems aligned with the architectural lexicon, offering new tools for documenting and enhancing fortified heritage.