From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin
Since the late 2000s, numerous studies have focused on the application of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) processes and technologies for the documentation of the historic built environment. Many of these studies have focused on the use of BIM software tools to generate intelligent 3D...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Heritage |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/1/33 |
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| author | Hord Arsalan David Heesom Nigel Moore |
| author_facet | Hord Arsalan David Heesom Nigel Moore |
| author_sort | Hord Arsalan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since the late 2000s, numerous studies have focused on the application of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) processes and technologies for the documentation of the historic built environment. Many of these studies have focused on the use of BIM software tools to generate intelligent 3D models using information gathered from a range of data capture techniques including laser scanning and photogrammetry. While this approach effectively preserves existing or partially extant heritage, it faces limitations in reconstructing lost or poorly documented structures. The aim of this study is to develop a novel approach to complement the existing tangible-based HBIM methods, towards an ‘Echo-based’ Heritage Digital Twin (EH-DT) an early-stage digital representation that leverages intangible, memory-based oral descriptions (or echoes) and AI text-to-image generation techniques. The overall methodology for the research presented in this paper proposes a three-phase framework. Phase 1: engineering a standardised heritage prompt template, Phase 2: creation of the Architectural Heritage Transformer, and Phase 3: implementing an AI text-to-image generation toolkit. Within these phases, intangible data, including collective memories (or oral histories) of people who had first-hand experience with the building, provide ‘echoes’ of past form. These can then be converted using a novel ‘Architectural Heritage Transformer’ (AHT), which converts plain language descriptions into architectural terminology through a generated taxonomy. The output of the AHT forms input for a pre-created standardised heritage prompt template for use in AI diffusion models. While the current EH-DT framework focuses on producing 2D visual representations, it lays the foundation for potential future integration with HBIM models or digital twin systems. However, the reliance on generative AI introduces potential risks of inaccuracies due to speculative outputs, necessitating rigorous validation and iterative refinement to ensure historical and architectural credibility. The findings indicate the potential of AI to extend the current HBIM paradigm by generating images of ‘lost’ heritage buildings, which can then be used to enhance and augment the more ‘traditional’ HBIM process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4cee710580be45e58a9d60c81cb98da9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj-art-4cee710580be45e58a9d60c81cb98da92025-01-24T13:34:24ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082025-01-01813310.3390/heritage8010033From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital TwinHord Arsalan0David Heesom1Nigel Moore2School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton—Springfield Campus, Grim-Stone Street, Wolverhampton WV10 0JR, UKSchool of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton—Springfield Campus, Grim-Stone Street, Wolverhampton WV10 0JR, UKSchool of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton—Springfield Campus, Grim-Stone Street, Wolverhampton WV10 0JR, UKSince the late 2000s, numerous studies have focused on the application of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) processes and technologies for the documentation of the historic built environment. Many of these studies have focused on the use of BIM software tools to generate intelligent 3D models using information gathered from a range of data capture techniques including laser scanning and photogrammetry. While this approach effectively preserves existing or partially extant heritage, it faces limitations in reconstructing lost or poorly documented structures. The aim of this study is to develop a novel approach to complement the existing tangible-based HBIM methods, towards an ‘Echo-based’ Heritage Digital Twin (EH-DT) an early-stage digital representation that leverages intangible, memory-based oral descriptions (or echoes) and AI text-to-image generation techniques. The overall methodology for the research presented in this paper proposes a three-phase framework. Phase 1: engineering a standardised heritage prompt template, Phase 2: creation of the Architectural Heritage Transformer, and Phase 3: implementing an AI text-to-image generation toolkit. Within these phases, intangible data, including collective memories (or oral histories) of people who had first-hand experience with the building, provide ‘echoes’ of past form. These can then be converted using a novel ‘Architectural Heritage Transformer’ (AHT), which converts plain language descriptions into architectural terminology through a generated taxonomy. The output of the AHT forms input for a pre-created standardised heritage prompt template for use in AI diffusion models. While the current EH-DT framework focuses on producing 2D visual representations, it lays the foundation for potential future integration with HBIM models or digital twin systems. However, the reliance on generative AI introduces potential risks of inaccuracies due to speculative outputs, necessitating rigorous validation and iterative refinement to ensure historical and architectural credibility. The findings indicate the potential of AI to extend the current HBIM paradigm by generating images of ‘lost’ heritage buildings, which can then be used to enhance and augment the more ‘traditional’ HBIM process.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/1/33heritageHBIMdigital twinarchitectureAItext-to-image |
| spellingShingle | Hord Arsalan David Heesom Nigel Moore From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin Heritage heritage HBIM digital twin architecture AI text-to-image |
| title | From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin |
| title_full | From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin |
| title_fullStr | From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin |
| title_short | From Heritage Building Information Modelling Towards an ‘Echo-Based’ Heritage Digital Twin |
| title_sort | from heritage building information modelling towards an echo based heritage digital twin |
| topic | heritage HBIM digital twin architecture AI text-to-image |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/1/33 |
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