Knowledge Visualization of Large-size Architectural Heritage. A Research Experience on Yanqing Section of Chinese Great Wall

This paper presents a research experience held in Beijing since 2009 by Dardus Department of Polytechnic University of Marche and Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. During a wider research campaign for knowledge and restoration of the Yanqing Section of Chinese Great Wall, the research staff faced the issues linked to the information management on a large size heritage work. The main questions were the presence of many different types of information, acquired across different times and with many methods and techniques, and the needs to visualize in the proper way that information in order to obtain analytical reference for the design strategies. The staff defined suitable methods for data acquisition and management, based in a new reading criterion of the monument features. The proposed visualization methods tried to collect the various data in a unique, interactive and immersive environment.