Evolution of building materials and philosophy in construction: A process of digitalization and visualization of the accumulated knowledge

Abstract

The long-term research on the constructional materials and techniques of monuments and historic buildings, allowed the accumulation of significant knowledge which could be further disseminated. The masons of antiquity followed principles in designing and building, established by their intuition and experience. The selection of raw materials, the way they upgraded them in constructing foundations, walls, domes, is still remarkable. In the paper, a process of using digital technology tools for making knowledge acquisition attractive is presented. By developing a specific platform, all relevant scientific knowledge can be sorted, while with a series of digital applications, the diachronic principles of construction, the ancient technology and the achievements of the past can be exploited in a friendly and interactive environment. By this way it is expected that the values of building philosophy in the context of safety, sustainability and economy will be forwarded to new generations.