Exploring Data and Technologies for Architectural and Urban History

The UHDL (Urban History in the Age of Digital Libraries) Workshop, held as part of the CHNT 2025 Conference in Vienna, brought together a vibrant community of researchers, cultural heritage professionals, and technology experts to explore new frontiers in digital urban and architectural history.

Chaired by Prof. Sander Münster (University of Jena), Prof. Piotr Kuroczynski (HS Mainz) and Prof. Fabrizio Apollonio (U. Bologna) the workshop attracted around 80–100 participants and featured 21 presentations covering a wide spectrum of topics from data management and AI applications, HBIM to visualization methods and digital storytelling for historical and cultural heritage research.

The workshop was co-organized by University of Jena, Technische Hochschule Mainz, Bologna University and supported by the the ICOMOS / ISPRS Committee for Heritage Documentation and Time Machine Organisation alongside with 3DBigDataSpace, 3D-4CH, MetaHeritage, MetaMuseum, DigiCher, the DFG 3D Viewer and other key projects in digital heritage research did provide additional support.

A Space for Innovation in Digital Heritage

The UHDL workshop series has established itself as a leading platform at the intersection of humanities, technology, and data science. This year’s edition emphasized the critical role of digital repositories, interoperable data standards, and visualization tools in advancing research on urban history and material culture.

Participants presented innovative projects and methodologies addressing challenges such as:

3D data handling and long-term preservation
Machine learning and AI applications for cultural heritage analysis
Visualization and presentation techniques supporting research, education, and public engagement

The interdisciplinary focus encouraged meaningful exchange between historians, computer scientists, architects, and policy experts, highlighting how collaboration can unlock new perspectives on historical environments.

Key Themes and Emerging Trends

Among the most discussed topics were:

The development of linked and semantic data models to improve data accessibility and interoperability
The potential of AI-driven image-based reconstruction and classification methods for historical buildings and sites
The use of 3D visualization as a bridge between scholarly research and public engagement, making cultural heritage more accessible and interactive

As digital tools continue to evolve, the UHDL community is shaping how we understand and experience the past, transforming static archives into dynamic, data-driven heritage ecosystems.

About UHDL

In its fourth edition, the UHDL Workshop continues to advance research on urban and architectural history in the digital age. It provides a platform to discuss technological frameworks, methodological developments, and theoretical perspectives in digital humanities and cultural heritage, encouraging collaboration and innovation across disciplines.

3DBigDataSpace is proud to support this interdisciplinary exchange, providing access to high-quality 3D datasets and fostering collaboration across Europe to unlock the potential of digital cultural heritage.