Workflow, data models and tools for the management of architectural heritage conservation data

FORTH Centre for Cultural Informatics & Information Systems Laboratory Greece

PhD enrolment : TUC Technical University of Crete

Supervisor(s): Pavlos Fafalios

Co-supervisor: Karima El Ganaoui - CY

Start date September 2026

Duration (in months) 36

Objectives: Development of a common data model for the integration of the diverse types of data and metadata (climate and environmental data, materials properties, images, etc.) collected and/or generated in the course of the project. This requires continuous communication with the other DCs for understanding the data and then designing a core data model that integrates all data elements under a common schema (an ontology). An important aspect is how to support the collection and organisation of the original datasets (produced/gathered by the other DCs) in a form that allows their consolidation and then their ontology-based integration based on the designed data model. This requires the design and development of a user-friendly and efficient workflow, accompanied by software tools, which on the one hand does not add an overhead to the humanities researchers and, on the other hand, supports them in better (more efficient) working with their data. Last, the integrated data should be made available to both end users (researchers) and software systems (e.g. AI models) through dedicated user interfaces and APIs.

Expected Results: i) A workflow model for overall management of architectural heritage conservation data (data gathering, consolidation, integration, access, provision), ii) a CIDOC CRM compatible ontology for the integration of architectural heritage conservation data, iii) software tools and systems for data management, iv) APIs and services for accessing the integrated data.

Planned secondment(s): PoliMi: A. Landi, M3, 2 months, meeting with domain experts on AH conservation. NTNU: C. Gao, M18, 2 months, better designing the services/APIs needed.H