Forgotten architecture: Smart tools for cultural tourism in the cloister of the prior (santa maria delle grazie, milan)

Abstract

This paper describes the relationship among an important nineteenth-century monument, the Cloister of the Prior (located in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan), its survey and the technical integration of different cultural information to be enjoyed in VR and AR during its visit. In this context, the surveying techniques have to face the problem related to the presence of white and smooth surfaces and the difficulty in obtaining a good result in the 3D modelling. Various tests have been performed to create a good point cloud from the photogrammetric survey of the cloister, conducted through the use of different camera lenses or post production interventions applied to the images, in order to obtain the best results. The 3D modelling is not only a base for creating virtual and augmented experiences (that, through digital contents, explain to the distracted public the history of this less known part of the monument) but also a starting point for possible further studies focused on the modifications that affected the cloister over the centuries.