Reporting on the Fountains and Monuments in Turin Project: A Proposal for the Preventive and Planned Conservation of Outdoor Cultural Heritage

Abstract

The conservation of cultural heritage increasingly requires a transition from emergency restoration to preventive and planned strategies supported by systematic data management. Within this context, this paper, conceived as a project report, presents the methodological premises, operational framework, and preliminary outcomes of the Fountains and Monuments in the Public Space of the City of Turin project, developed within the CHANGES Project—National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the European Union—NextGenerationEU. The project explores the integration of preventive and planned conservation methodologies with digital tools for the sustainable management of outdoor cultural heritage. Five case studies in Turin, identified in collaboration with local authorities, provided the basis for developing a protocol for planned conservation. A digital platform was designed as the operational tool of this protocol, integrating georeferenced data, 3D models, interactive dashboards, and modules for inspection, planning, and monitoring. The platform enables data-driven prioritisation of interventions, traceability of conservation activities, and long-term documentation management. Although still at the demonstrator stage, it shows potential for scalability and transferability. The study concludes that the integration of interdisciplinary expertise and digital innovation can effectively support preventive and planned conservation, strengthening the systematic management of outdoor cultural heritage.