Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026)
Articles

Information Management for Built Heritage: CDE and HBIM for Educational Buildings. The Case of the Pistelli School in Rome

Alessandro D'Amico
Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering, DICEA, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Marilena De Bellis
Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering, DICEA, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Edoardo Currà
Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering, DICEA, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Published 2026-01-29

Keywords

  • HBIM,
  • CDE,
  • School Building,
  • Built Heritage,
  • Digital Preservation

Abstract

The integration of Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) with Common Data Environment (CDE) is essential for the efficient management and preservation of historical school buildings. This study explores their combined application through the case of the Ermenegildo Pistelli school in Rome. The methodology involves advanced surveying techniques, archival research, and digital modeling to create an accurate HBIM model, stored and managed within a CDE. The results highlight the role of public administration and stakeholder collaboration in ensuring effective data structuring, accessibility, and long-term conservation. Despite challenges in interoperability and digital literacy, the findings emphasize the importance of standardized workflows and stakeholder engagement in heritage management. Future research should enhance open-source solutions, improve training programs for public entities, and promote broader interdisciplinary cooperation. This study contributes to advancing digital strategies for the sustainable preservation of educational building heritage.

References

  1. Liu J, Bird G, Willkens DS, Burt RA, McGonagill H (2023) Preserving the history of African American Education: Digital Documentation of Rosenwald Schools-A Case Study on the Tankersley School in Hope Hull, Alabama, USA. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLVIII-M-2-2023:951–958. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-M-2-2023-951-2023
  2. Garcia-Gago J, Sánchez-Aparicio LJ, Soilán M, González-Aguilera D (2022) HBIM for supporting the diagnosis of historical buildings: case study of the Master Gate of San Francisco in Portugal. Autom Constr 141:104453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2022.104453
  3. Liu J, Willkens DS, Foreman G (2022) An introduction to technological tools and process of Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM). EGE-Expresión Gráfica en la Edificación 16:50–65. https://doi.org/10.4995/ege.2022.17723
  4. Tagliabue LC, Villa V (2017) Il BIM per le scuole: analisi del patrimonio scolastico e strategie di intervento. Hoepli, Milano
  5. Lin YC (2017) Application of integration of HBIM and VR technology to 3D immersive digital management-Take han type traditional architecture as an example. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLII-2/W5:443–446. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W5-443-2017
  6. El Barhoumi N, Hajji R (2024) HBIM and Extended Reality for cultural mediation of Historical Heritage: a Review. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLVIII-4/W9-2024:125–132. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-4-W9-2024-125-2024
  7. Matrone F, Colucci E, De Ruvo V, Lingua A, Spanò A (2019) HBIM in a semantic 3d gis database. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLII-2/W11:857–865. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W11-857-2019
  8. Ferro A, Lo Brutto M, Ventimiglia GM (2023) A Scan-to-BIM process for the monitoring and conservation of the architectural heritage: Integration of thematic information in a HBIM model. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLVIII-M-2-2023:549–556. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-M-2-2023-549-2023
  9. Heesom D, Boden P, Hatfield A, Rooble S, Andrews D, Hallam G (2021) Developing a collaborative HBIM to integrate tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Int J Build Pathol Adapt 39(1):72–95. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2019-0036
  10. Jordan-Palomar I, Tzortzopoulos P, García-Valldecabres J, Pellicer E (2018) Protocol to Manage Heritage-Building Interventions Using Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM). Sustainability 10(4):908. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040908
  11. Bacci G, Bertolini F, Bevilacqua MG, Caroti G, Martínez-Espejo Zaragoza I, Martino M, Piemonte A (2019) HBIM methodologies for the architectural restoration. The case of the ex-church of San Quirico all’Olivo in Lucca, Tuscany. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLII-2/W11:121–126. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W11-121-2019
  12. Oreni D, Brumana R, Georgopoulos A, Cuca B (2013) HBIM for conservation and management of built heritage: towards a library of vaults and wooden beam floors. ISPRS Ann Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci II-5/W1:215–221. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsannals-II-5-W1-215-2013
  13. Fernandes Dionizio R, Dezen-Kempter E (2024) Cultural heritage management: towards informed decision-making based on integrated HBIM-GIS. Blucher Soc Sci Proc 7:501–516. https://doi.org/10.5151/FGKD24-48
  14. Attenni M (2019) Informative models for architectural heritage. Heritage 2(3):2067–2089. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2030125
  15. Khodeir LM, Soliman HE (2017) Sustainable Development of Heritage Areas: Towards Cyber-Physical Systems Integration in Extant Heritage Buildings and Planning Conservation. Int J Recent Contrib Eng Sci IT (iJES) 5(1):40–52. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijes.v5i1.6623
  16. Patacas J, Dawood N, Kassem M (2020) BIM for facilities management: A framework and a common data environment using open standards. Autom Constr 120:103366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103366
  17. Shin MH, Kim SA (2024) Analyzing the variances in perspectives on BIM implementation among Korea AEC participants. Adv Civ Eng 2024:4809957. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/4809957
  18. Abbas M, Ajayi S, Oyegoke A, Alaka H (2022) A Cloud-based Collaborative Ecosystem for the Automation of BIM Execution Plan (BEP). J Eng Des Technol 21(5):1229–1252. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-02-2022-0128
  19. Tang B, Luo J, Zhang J (2024) Container-based data-intensive application scheduling in hybrid cloud-edge collaborative environment. Softw Pract Exp 54(7):1217–1240. https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.3195
  20. Lim G, Lee D, Suh S (2015) Cloud-Based Content Synchronization Method for Collaborative Learning Environment. Int J Adv Corp Learn (iJAC) 8(1):24–29. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijac.v8i1.4410
  21. Zhou C, Dong X, Zou Y, Chen L, Xu F (2024) A Historical Building Information Modeling-Based Framework to Improve Collaboration and Data Security in Architectural Heritage Restoration Projects. Buildings 14(5):1431. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051431
  22. Oostwegel LJN, Jaud Š, Muhič S, Malovrh Rebec K (2022) Digitalization of culturally significant buildings: ensuring high-quality data exchanges in the heritage domain using OpenBIM. Herit Sci 10:1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00640-y
  23. Moyano J, Fernández-Alconchel M, Nieto-Julián JE, Barrera JA, Fernández-Valderrama P (2023) Integration of dynamic information on energy parameters in HBIM models. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLVIII-M-2-2023:1089–1096. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-M-2-2023-1089-2023
  24. Currà E, Russo M, Severi L, Morganti M, Habib E, Grignaffini S (2020) Recupero e riqualificazione integrata delle scuole del Regno a Roma. Strategie di intervento energetico sostenibile. In: Cascone SM, Margani G, Sapienza V (eds) New Horizons for Sustainable Architecture – Nuovi orizzonti per l’architettura sostenibile. Edicom, Monfalcone, pp 1398–1413
  25. D’Amico A, Currà E, Di Livio P, Del Lucchese F, Pini A, Rognoni M (2025) BIM and Code Checking for School Buildings: Standard Checks for IAQ. In: Corrao R, Campisi T, Colajanni S, Saeli M, Vinci C (eds) Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of Ar.Tec. (Scientific Society of Architectural Engineering) Colloqui.AT.e 2024. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 611. Springer, Cham, pp 249–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71863-2_16
  26. Remiddi G, Bonavita A (2005) Guida alle scuole del I Municipio: il moderno attraverso Roma. Palombi, Roma