Innovative tools and methods for digitizing both visible and non-visible attributes of cultural heritage items. Part I: needed tools and strategies

Abstract

Digitization marks the initial phase of digital transformation, encompassing a spectrum of socio-technical developments that unfold thereafter. These processes are pivotal components within a broader domain that: 1) encompasses physical inspection methodologies, business models geared towards enhancing inspection efficiency, integrity engineering, and decision-making; and 2) furnishes invaluable data to enrich the design, production, and maintenance over the lifespan of cultural heritage artifacts. Vrana and Sing (2020) advocate for designating this domain as Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) 4.0, underscoring its characterization as "a suite of cyber-physical technologies." These technologies encompass Digital Twin (DT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Semantic Interoperability and Ontologies, Industry 4.0 Data Processing (Big Data Analysis), Blockchains, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and Artificial Intelligence. The concept of Digital Twin, introduced in 2003 at the University of Michigan during the Executive Course on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), as articulated by Grieves (2014), holds particular significance. Glaessgen and Stargel (2012) subsequently advocated for Digital Twins to support the production of NASA and U.S. Air Force vehicles, envisioning them as enabling "integrated multiphysics, multiscale, probabilistic simulation of an as-built vehicle or system that utilizes the best available physical models, sensor updates, fleet history, etc." Within this framework, a methodology will be elucidated for devising and implementing innovative tools and techniques for digitizing and digitalizing attributes of cultural heritage items.