An Advanced Model to Represent and Manage Knowledge in Cultural Heritage

For the delicate and complex process of knowledge acquisition in cultural heritage to be controlled and managed, it is necessary to plan and properly guide actions considering monuments from a holistic perspective. Thus, data and information should not be simply collected but they should be processed in order to highlight possible connections and implications and to define a correct knowledge base. This paper proposes and illustrates an innovative and original method that can be referred to with the acronym CMK (Coordination, Management, Knowledge). The method includes interconnected and multidisciplinary phases and aims at defining in detail the operational procedures which lead to the definition of the knowledge base and to the consequent identification of adequate and responsible proposals for actions. The method can be adapted to the level of detail or to the specific information required as well as to the needs emerged during its application. The main phase of the method, which is devoted to build the knowledge base also through the creation of an interactive and digital case sheet, is introduced by a preliminary phase, during which the monument is first approached in its broadest context. In its turn, it also supports a final more proactive phase devoted to the definition of the conservation and restoration actions to propose. Finally, an application to a real case is presented in order to clearly illustrate the proposed method.