THE VIRTUAL HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CERCHIA DEI NAVIGLI OF MILAN: FROM HISTORICAL ARCHIVES, 3D SURVEY AND HBIM TO THE VIRTUAL VISUAL STORYTELLING

Abstract. In the last decades, thanks to the development of eXtended Reality (XR) development platforms, research studies have envisaged new possibilities for disseminating tangible and intangible values of the past through historical virtual reconstructions. More recently, experimentation in the field of virtual archaeology has led to the development of interactive experiences based on advanced virtual and augmented reality (VR-AR) technologies. In this context, the authors intend to support the transmissibility of the historical and cultural background through validated and sustainable workflow-oriented to create virtual historical reconstruction using different sources such as 3D survey (laser scanning and digital photogrammetry), Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) models and historical reports. The XR project’s development included reconstructing the main historical sections and water basins of the Cerchia dei Navigli in Milan: the Conca dell’Incoronata, the Conca di Viarenna and Via Senato. The main objective is to achieve realistic and suggestive Virtual Visual Storytelling (VVS), recreating the atmospheres and scenes of everyday life when the waterways were still present. The result is engaging content on an emotional level, which leaves the visitor with dynamic memory and the feeling of reliving lost moments.