Italian design firm Italferr, renowned for its expertise in transport infrastructure projects, took centre stage at the canada email list Bentley Going Digital Awards 2023. The prestigious event, hosted by Bentley Systems as part of the Year in Infrastructure conference in Singapore, celebrates pioneering achievements in infrastructure projects around the world.
Among the many winners, the stunning project by Italferr caught the attention of both industry representatives and the jury. What made it stand out? The creation of a digital twin of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. This iconic building, with its enormous cultural and religious significance, presented Italferr with unique challenges that required a masterful combination of technical skills and respect for the artistic and spiritual significance of the cathedral.
At the center of the digital twin project was Davide Porzio, Head of the Organization of the Unified Information Environment and BIM Coordinator at Italferr. He was happy to share with all the innovation lovers his unique answers to the intriguing questions about the reconstruction of the appearance of St. Peter's Basilica.
What particular challenges did you face in collecting data outside and inside the building, given the uniqueness of St. Peter's Basilica in terms of
We encountered specific challenges in carrying out the measurements. Since the object has such great artistic and cultural value, we encountered them both at the measurement stage and at the stage of characterizing the materials. During the survey, we used different technologies to achieve optimal results both inside and outside the building. We chose specialized tools that allowed us to approach the vaults and domes without touching the decorative elements and without exposing them to the risk of damage.
Given the nature of this project, you came up with the interesting idea of using laser scanners and homemade balloons to collect data. Could you elaborate on how you applied these methods?
Since we needed to obtain the most detailed and high-quality data for both the interior and exterior, we decided to use different technologies. For the exterior, we used tachymeters, laser scanners, and a photogrammetry system in the form of drones. Inside, along with laser scanning, we used ground penetrating radar to study the stratigraphy of the walls. In order to get to fragile interior surfaces such as vaults and domes without damaging them, we used a helium-filled aircraft instead of a conventional drone.
An important challenge during this phase was to minimise disruption to the daily life of the cathedral and its thousands of visitors. Therefore, we often worked outside of regular hours when the basilica was closed to the public. This allowed us to collect data without interruption.
You used ProjectWise, iTwin Capture and MicroStation to manage project data. How did these BIM tools impact your efficiency in handling the huge amount of data?
All collected data, from archival records to research to the updated model, totaling over 5 terabytes, was collected in a single digital environment and a single digital twin. More than 50 users have access to it. The digital twin is synchronized daily to maintain a constant updating process.
We chose Bentley products because they had proven themselves in our organization. Tools like ContextCapture for reality modeling and ProjectWise for data management ensured the accuracy and scalability of project data. The time saved by using Bentley programs allowed us to meet our deadlines.
What additional benefits does a digital twin provide, beyond the ability to monitor structures and prepare for the 2025 anniversary celebration?
In addition to structural monitoring, the digital twin provides the following additional benefits: creation of a digital archive for heritage preservation, optimized planning of site work, collaboration between project participants from different organizations, a specialized approach to the design of the building structure, modeling of the operation and maintenance of the building, and educational opportunities for students and craftspeople.
How will digital twins change the construction industry in Russia?
The possibility of integration between the digital twin and game engines is very intriguing. How do you imagine the possibility of creating an immersive experience around this iconic building?
Our plans for the future of the digital twin of St. Peter's Basilica include several goals: improving real-time monitoring, using it for maintenance and restoration of the building, preserving archival documents, expanding educational initiatives, and exploring the possibilities of integrating with new technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). These advances will greatly enhance the heritage of the basilica and increase its accessibility. In particular, we intend to use AR technologies to create an immersive experience both inside the basilica, where it is impossible to personally appreciate distant decorative elements such as vaults and domes, and remotely, allowing those who are unable to visit it in person to get to know the basilica.
This project has broadened the knowledge of Italferr's specialists and introduced them to new technologies. What conclusions have you drawn and how could you apply them in future projects?
Italferr’s core business is the development of rail infrastructure projects. However, this project, focused on an iconic historic building, introduced us to new challenges in the preservation of cultural heritage. We have therefore modified our work processes to take this into account. Working on a building as iconic as St. Peter’s Basilica required a meticulous and sensitive approach, focusing on the preservation of elements, structural analysis and cultural significance. The success of this project has broadened our planning horizons, opening up new perspectives beyond our core expertise. Optimising our work processes will significantly reduce project delivery times in the future, allowing us to deliver high-quality work more efficiently.
This experience has fundamentally changed the way we work, enabling us to deliver innovative and successful projects. As for the future of digital twins in the conservation of culturally significant buildings, their potential is incredibly promising. We have detailed plans for the future use of the digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica. It will be used to monitor the deterioration of the basilica’s structure and the state of its environment in real time, allowing us to proactively address potential problems and preserve this iconic building. In addition, the digital twin will play a key role in the planning and implementation of maintenance and restoration projects. By simulating various scenarios in a virtual environment, we will ensure accurate results and minimal disruption. The digital twin will also serve as a digital repository for archival records and documentation related to the cathedral. It will help preserve its rich heritage, providing researchers and historians with access to invaluable information.