3D Research’s virtual modeling for the project “Capolavori in 100km.” The website is online!

3D Research oversaw the virtual modeling and simulation component of the project “Capolavori in 100 Km: A real and virtual journey through the culture of Basilicata to discover, preserve, and enhance.” The website is now online!

The project “Capolavori in 100 Km: A real and virtual journey through the culture of Basilicata to discover, preserve, and enhance” began in 2018 under the supervision of architect Gisella Capponi. It was subsequently led by Director Dr. Luigi Ficacci and concluded in 2023 under the guidance of architect Alessandra Marino and the coordination of the Central Institute for Restoration.

Conservation studies and interventions were carried out at some of the most significant museums in Basilicata (such as the National Museum of Palazzo Lanfranchi, the Domenico Ridola Archaeological Museum, the National Museum of Metaponto, and the National Archaeological Museum of Siritide in Policoro) as well as in the rock-hewn churches of Matera (Santa Lucia alle Malve Church, San Pietro Barisano Church). The innovative component of the project involved leading Italian research institutes and university departments.

Two key themes were addressed:

• Conservation and enhancement of Basilicata’s heritage: through environmental monitoring, conservation, and restoration interventions, aimed at preserving and valorizing the region’s rich heritage. These efforts concerned both museum artifacts and significant architectural structures, such as the rock-hewn churches of Matera.




• Development of innovative systems for museum heritage protection: in parallel, research and innovation activities were carried out to develop advanced systems ensuring better protection of museum collections through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

The museums of Basilicata safeguard particularly delicate collections of archaeological and historical-artistic assets, including frescoes, wooden statues, ceramics, and other artifacts, either restored or awaiting restoration, often irregular in shape and partially reconstructed. These require special attention for conservation: in addition to their fragility, they are distinguished by their extraordinary beauty, making them frequently requested for temporary exhibitions both in Italy and abroad.

The project provides data and guidelines to optimize the conservation, display, and transportation of artifacts, especially in preparation for potential transfers.

The rock-hewn churches constituted a second area of interest and study within Capolavori in 100 km: preserving the assets inside them is complex, particularly due to unfavorable environmental conditions. Restoration works, environmental monitoring, and diagnostic investigations were carried out to identify and address these issues.

The continuous and close collaboration with public and private institutions in Basilicata was fundamental in guiding all activities to support protection interventions, with the goal of improving the conservation, management, and valorization of the region’s heritage.

3D Research contributed to the project’s virtual modeling and simulation activities by employing numerical parameters obtained experimentally from tests conducted at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Politecnico di Milano.

Thanks to these models, it was possible to simulate the behavior of artifacts in response to vibrations caused by earthquakes or transportation.

This made it possible to identify the best solutions to be tested in the laboratory. At the same time, simulations were conducted on earthquake-induced vibrations affecting a showcase prototype produced by Artèria s.r.l..

The research “Development of services for the transport and exhibition of artistic artifacts from the museums of Basilicata using innovative systems for managing and handling items, with the primary goal of reducing vibrations” was carried out by a Temporary Purpose Association composed of the Politecnico di Milano, 3D Research, the transport company Artèria s.r.l., and the restoration cooperative CBC.

The study analyzed various essential aspects, all crucial for designing protection systems for artworks, both against vibrations from transportation and earthquakes. The innovation of this research lies in its multidisciplinary approach, which enabled the acquisition of precise data both on original works and on replicas used for laboratory tests, thereby contributing to the development of virtual modeling.

Website link: https://capolavoriin100km.cultura.gov.it/