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First integrated digital survey and HBIM modelling of the Colosseum completed
11 June 2025
After two years of work, the first integrated digital survey and HBIM modelling of the Colosseum has been completed.
"The integrated digital documentation and HBIM modelling project for the Colosseum is the result of thirty years of know-how from the DIAPReM Departmental Centre (Development of Integrated Automatic Procedures for Restoration of Monuments) of the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara, the operational core of the TekneHub Laboratory (part of the Technopole of the University of Ferrara) with expertise in digital documentation, and the consolidated collaboration with Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca (CFR) Centre for Innovation of the Ferrara Technopole, and with the players in the Emilia-Romagna High Technology Network, in particular Clust-ER BUILD, which has been working for years in synergy on issues of digital documentation of cultural, archaeological and existing built heritage," explains Prof. Marcello Balzani of the Department of Architecture at the University of Ferrara.
The work involved the staff of the Colosseum Archaeological Park and a temporary association of companies with specific expertise in the sector: Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca (CFR) as the agent, Geogrà stp of Sermide, ETS srl of Rome, and Janus srl, a spin-off of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. CFR, Geogrà and ETS are also members of Clust-ER BUILD, the Emilia-Romagna High Technology Network.
The results of the project, presented yesterday, 8 May, at the Curia Iulia in the Roman Forum, are illustrated in greater detail at the conference ‘Digital documentation of archaeological heritage through 3D surveying and HBIM modelling: the Colosseum’ as part of the ‘30th Edition of the Restoration Fair’, Ferrara, Wednesday 14 May from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sala De Chirico, together with MIC, Colosseum Archaeological Park (Director Dr Alfonsina Russo, Sole Project Manager Dr Federica Rinaldi and Director of Execution Architect Barbara Nazzaro) by Scientific Coordinators Marcello Balzani, Guido Galvani and Fabiana Raco, together with the DIAPReM/TekneHub group (Technopole of the University of Ferrara), Martina Suppa, Gabriele Giau, Dario Rizzi, Fabio Planu, and all the members of the working group.
During the conference, the phases of integrated digital surveying and HBIM modelling will be illustrated, such as 3D surveying - topographic, laser scanning and photogrammetric (from drones and terrestrial sources) - and two-dimensional digital processing with architectural and thematic documentation, aimed at various fields, such as: restoration, with the segmentation of the survey by materials, construction techniques and degradation; structural and instability analysis; archaeological aspects with documentation of the main wall relationships, the loading of stratigraphic wall units developed in recent years and erratic elements; HBIM models for the documentation and management of the monument, with the implementation of information on systems and services.
The result is a geometric-informative digital documentation system for the entire monument, the first in the history of the Colosseum, designed to integrate existing data, new data and information, and 2D and 3D models with a view to managing the asset's life cycle.
Having an HBIM model of the Colosseum means preserving and analysing the past with the tools of the future: integrated and multidisciplinary management of the monument is finally possible, including structural analysis, conservation monitoring and intervention planning through an interoperable information system that can be updated over time. The challenge for the future, thanks to the presence of an innovative tool that allows the integration of archaeological, geometric and material data in a single digital environment, supporting more informed decisions and more sustainable interventions, is to develop and implement specialist training and maintain the necessary coordination with public research bodies and private sector operators, so that the potential of digital technology translates into real value for the preservation of collective memory." says Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park.
Key figures for the project
Integrated Digital 3D Survey:
84 laser scanner point clouds.
86 photomodelling point clouds.
90 themed point clouds.
Points acquired with 3D laser scanner:
General External Area: 17,160,000,000.
Cavea: 5,808,000,000.
Hypogeum: 14,860,000,000.
Interior (wedges): 71,000,000,000.
Photogrammetric Survey Data:
Total photographic images: 208,530.
Of which from drones: 15,169.
2D processing:
8,704 CAD files.
2,619 CAD and PDF tables divided by theme (e.g. architectural survey, materials, state of conservation, cracking pattern, stratigraphic units).
HBIM models:
Number of models: 10.
Number of objects: 27,664.
Categories of parameters/datasets implemented: 11.
Number of specific parameters implemented: 85.
Number of links associated with the models: 6,361.
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