A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL ON DERELICT BUILDINGS FOR URBAN REGENERATION

Abstract. We present a decision suppport tool for the comparison and selection of projects of integrated renovation of derelict buildings and areas for the purpose of urban regeneration. Each project is defined as a subset of derelict properties to renovate together with their respective designated use, and is scored by the decision support tool on two criteria: expected effort and estimated effectiveness in terms of improved urban capabilities in the urban area of interest. The expected effort is estimated as a global transformation cost, factoring in legal and management overhead costs as well as possible economies of scale. The effectiveness in evaluated in terms of extension of urban capabilities centred on walkable distances. We have implemented a bi-objective evolutionary search algorithm to address the computational complexity of the problem of search for efficient (non-dominated) projects over the two criteria. For the purpose of illustration, we present an example case-study application on the historical core of the city of Sassari, Italy.</p

3D Modeling applications for cultural heritage

The arising interest towards 3D modeling of both single objects and whole environments is strictly related with the availability of more and more powerful computing and surveying devices. A new set of issues has to be addressed in the 3D modeling of real objects. A lot of data are needed about the object surface or volume, which have then to be aggregated, regardless the data format and the acquisition device used, in order to get the final model. Actually, the data registration step requires the estimate of a first approximate estimate of the alignement between acquired data. This approach is often time-consuming, increases the final cost of the 3D model and represents the major limit to the wide spreading of real object models. Taking into account this drawback, a fully automatic range data registration system has been developed. This system is able to execute all the steps needed for 3D modeling of real objects in automatic way or at least minimizing as more as possible the human intervention, without any other information but the range data only. In this paper an overview of the whole registration system is presented, focusing on the integration between the two main blocks. In the first one, overlapping areas between range image pairs are detected by mean of spin-images and an initial approximate alignement between image pairs is computed. Then, in the second block, a refinement of this estimate is performed by use of a cascade of two registration algorithms: the Frequency Domain and the ICP. Some interesting applications of proposed strategy for 3D modeling of cultural heritage objects will be also reported

Automatic registration of 3D views

Building of 3D models for single objects so as for whole environments, represents a continuosly and quickly evolving new research field of the computer science. The arising interest in this field is strictly related with the increasing availability of more powerful CPUs, overall in terms of PCs, which made possible, for the first time, to effectively manage complex 3D models off the research centers, as well. A new set of issues has to be addressed in the 3D modeling of real objects. A lot of data are needed about the object surface or volume, which have then to be aggregated, regardless the data format and the acquisition device used, in order to get the final model. Actually, the data registration step requires a human operator, which were able to provide a first rough alignement between acquired data. This approach is often time-consuming, increases the final cost of the 3D model and represents the major limit to the wide spreading of real object models. Alternatively more sofisticated range data acquisition devices can be used, such a range sensor mounted on a robotic arm with six degree of freedom, but anyway it is a very expensive modeling system. In the light of topics previously exposed, a fully automatic range data registration system has been developed. This system is able to execute all the steps needed for 3D modeling of real objects in automatic way or at least minimizing as more as possible the human intervention, without any other information but the range data only. In this paper, the subsystem for alignement of range data pairs is presented. The work draws the idea from A. E. Johnson[1], which proposed an innovative solution for the recognition of similarities between 3D surfaces, introducing the spin-image concept. The advantage of this approach rely on high computational robustness and effectiveness, which allows to employ standard market-level CPUs. On the ground of the spin-image concept, a full data registration system was developed, in which the overlapping areas of two adjacent data set are automatically recognized, thus allowing to correctly align the two whole data sets

Diaspora and mapping methodologies : tracing transnational digital connections with ‘mattering maps’

There is a methodological tendency in work on diaspora and digital media for quantitative investigations to approach diaspora in static ways that contrast with theories of diaspora as a dynamic cultural formation. On the other hand, qualitative, ethnographic work tends not to engage with digital methods and quantitative datadriven investigation. In this article, we sketch this methodological and disciplinary disconnect and address it by proposing a model for understanding digitally mediated formations of diaspora that combines digital methods techniques with a sensitivity to ethical and theoretical discussions of migration and diaspora. Drawing on interpretive epistemologies and feminist research ethics, we present a case study analysis of a locally informed, Turkish–Dutch issue. We argue for a method that produces ‘mattering maps’. This involves tracking and visualizing digital traces of an issue across web platforms (Google Search results, Facebook pages, and Instagram posts) and integrating this with an analysis of the face-to-face interview responses of a key issue acto

Diaspora and mapping methodologies : tracing transnational digital connections with ‘mattering maps’

There is a methodological tendency in work on diaspora and digital media for quantitative investigations to approach diaspora in static ways that contrast with theories of diaspora as a dynamic cultural formation. On the other hand, qualitative, ethnographic work tends not to engage with digital methods and quantitative datadriven investigation. In this article, we sketch this methodological and disciplinary disconnect and address it by proposing a model for understanding digitally mediated formations of diaspora that combines digital methods techniques with a sensitivity to ethical and theoretical discussions of migration and diaspora. Drawing on interpretive epistemologies and feminist research ethics, we present a case study analysis of a locally informed, Turkish–Dutch issue. We argue for a method that produces ‘mattering maps’. This involves tracking and visualizing digital traces of an issue across web platforms (Google Search results, Facebook pages, and Instagram posts) and integrating this with an analysis of the face-to-face interview responses of a key issue acto

Diaspora and mapping methodologies : tracing transnational digital connections with ‘mattering maps’

There is a methodological tendency in work on diaspora and digital media for quantitative investigations to approach diaspora in static ways that contrast with theories of diaspora as a dynamic cultural formation. On the other hand, qualitative, ethnographic work tends not to engage with digital methods and quantitative datadriven investigation. In this article, we sketch this methodological and disciplinary disconnect and address it by proposing a model for understanding digitally mediated formations of diaspora that combines digital methods techniques with a sensitivity to ethical and theoretical discussions of migration and diaspora. Drawing on interpretive epistemologies and feminist research ethics, we present a case study analysis of a locally informed, Turkish–Dutch issue. We argue for a method that produces ‘mattering maps’. This involves tracking and visualizing digital traces of an issue across web platforms (Google Search results, Facebook pages, and Instagram posts) and integrating this with an analysis of the face-to-face interview responses of a key issue acto