Digital Survey as efficient tool for Leon Battista Alberti's geometric memory

It may seem quite ambitious to conduce, within limited time, a series of surveys of the entire architectures’geometric memory by Leon Battista Alberti. Furthermore, operating with the same methodology and equipment in order to built up a morphometric data base to be consulted and navigated even by the web as a support to research, preservation and publication of cultural heritage. The idea was born during an experimentation developed on the bell tower of the Ferrara Cathedral in 2003. An intense collaboration followed between the Fondazione Centro Studi Leon Battista Alberti in Mantua, the DIAPReM Center of the Ferrara University and the Consorzio Ferrara Ricerche, with the intention to realize the project within a few years. The project has started in 2005 as a scientific collaboration based on 3D laser scanner technology for the processing of three-dimensional models of Alberti’s entire architectural work. Primarily, all the surveys have to be completed. Then, a 3D computerized data base will be developed which shall be organized at different levels in order to be conveniently consulted, updated and implemented. The data bank will be located at the Mantua Center and optimized for the enhancement of knowledge, fruition by researchers, restorers, ranging from interested in arts to students and will gather digital material such as the point cloud models from laser scanner surveys, the topographic and the corresponding photographic data. Further, it will allow an integrated computerized consulting of all collected data. It is a starting point for the revaluation and, first of all, for the management for maintenance of monuments. The cooperation between the owning authorities of the properties will be fundamental for the success. The material acquired through the digital surveys will be available for consultation to researchers and public authorities at the Alberti Foundation integrating and increasing the “Fondo albertiano”