Inside Bramante: Best Fit Algorithms for Architectural Analysis

Abstract. The use of massive digital surveying is now a well-established practice for the documentation and monitoring of cultural heritage. Our research focuses on point cloud analysis through developing best fit algorithms to expand the toolkit available for critical historical studies. By merging advanced computational methods with traditional analytical approaches, the study aims to support the interpretations process of heritage sites and artifacts, enriching scholarly research. The integration of computational techniques with traditional methods will enable new forms of analysis, enhancing the knowledge, preservation, and valorization of cultural heritage. The research focuses on three Renaissance structures designed by Donato Bramante-The Santa Maria della Pace cloister, the Vatican staircase and the Tempietto of San Pietro in Montorio- and tests best-fit algorithms on column shafts to detect geometric patterns and possible anomalies.