Complementary approach for vernacular wooden frame structures reconstruction

Abstract

The research is focused on traditional timber frame structures (TFS) situated in rural areas. Often neglected, remaining examples embody our build Heritage. However, architects have few tools to manage a conservation project in respect to the structural authenticity of these constructions. Therefore, providing a complementary tool able to automatically recognize and reconstruct traditional rural timber walling which have been structurally transformed is the major function of our research. The tool should automate as much as possible the procedure in two steps. Firstly, record the available examples of gables and identify their typologies. Secondly, formulate transformations hypothesis of a given wooden structure through time. The recording procedure is made by analyzing pictures with image processing in order to extract the wooden structures from colored pictures. The typology recognition is based on a statistical approach where' as structural approach will help to achieve reconstruction hypothesis. Structure recording and typology recognition will be presented in this paper. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.