A Descriptive Framework for Archival-Source-Based 3D Architectural Modeling

Abstract

In the digital reconstruction of historic buildings, the quality and completeness of available archival sources significantly influence the accuracy and reliability of the resulting 3D models. In archive-based modeling, the data used is heterogeneous: architectural drawings, historical photographs, textual documents, analog examples, and schematic representations may all be present. The diversity of sources and the building's physical status lack a uniform classification framework that is practical. This study aims to introduce a five-category classification system that categorizes digital reconstruction scenarios based on the type of archival sources and the physical status of the building. The study proposes a structured project description framework for documenting and comparing projects. The results highlight that systematizing reconstruction scenarios enhances transparency in modeling decisions and supports data-driven interpretation and comparability of 3D models. The approach aligns with data-driven and information-oriented modeling perspectives.