Digital 3D reconstruction as a research environment in art and architecture history. Infrastructure for documentation and publication.

This dissertation addresses the still unsolved challenges concerning digital 3D reconstruction, particularly its documentation, publication, and representation in archaeology, art, and architectural history. An effort is being made to create an open-access 3D model repository that meets modern documentation and publication requirements. The practical usability of this platform will be examined in the context of higher education, as well as in scientific and cultural fields. The digital turn in the sciences and humanities has enabled the reclamation of lost Cultural Heritage and the visualisation of never-built architectural and urban projects through digital 3D models. Source-based hypothetical 3D reconstructions offer a way to investigate historical buildings and present research results visually. However, this shift has also introduced challenges related to the management of vast amounts of heterogeneous digital data. The lack of standards for documenting and publishing 3D reconstructions has led to knowledge loss, outdated and unreadable data, and difficulties in long-term preservation. Existing guidelines have attempted to establish principles for documentation, accessibility, and readability. However, the community still struggles to enforce these due to the absence of well-established solutions. Limited funding and the need for advanced digital documentation methods based on information technology further complicate compliance with these recommendations. This research examines documentation methods at different stages of a digital asset’s life cycle, focusing on model creation, publication, and reuse. The study aims to systematise modelling techniques, metadata schemas, and publication strategies to ensure sustainable access to digital heritage models. The ultimate goal is to create a structured infrastructure that supports documentation and publication based on widely accepted standards while facilitating accessibility for a broad audience.