Listen

versione italiana 

 

European Project

 
iHERITAGE: ICT Mediterranean platform for UNESCO cultural heritage

 
Grant Contract n. 31/17053, 15/09/2020
Total budget assigned: € 3.874.287,06
UNIPA Budget: € 240.502,50

 

Countries involved in iHeritage: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan.

 

Summary:

UNIPA is partner to iHERITAGE project financed by European Neighborhood Instrument – Cross Border Cooperation – Mediterranean (ENI CBC MED Program 2014-2020), aimed to promote cross-border technological transfer among countries of the Mediterranean basin involved in the project, by using the latest ICT technologies (AR/VR/MR) for the enhancement and the innovative fruition of Mediterranean UNESCO cultural and architectural heritage. Through the institution of Living Labs, industry-academia collaborations, the development of innovative products and the creation of spin offs, iHERITAGE will maximize the scientific research results and will allow the dissemination and reinterpretation of UNESCO World Heritage. The main activities of UNIPA in iHERITAGE aim to qualify and improve the level of information, communication and use of the UNESCO heritage relating to the «Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale» and of the others Norman artefacts (both buildings, pieces of arts and the underground water pipes -qanāt-) not included in the World Heritage List yet; to extend the valorization of Norman heritage and to maximize the involvement of public and researchers and students, through augmented and immersive experiences that can be lived also from people with disabilities, in order to promote a more inclusive society. UNIPA will develop virtual architectural reconstructions of monuments and sites; researchers and stakeholders that will be involved in iHERITAGE will exploit AR/VR technologies for creating augmented virtual tours that will allow access to all and will help to overcome the accessibility limitations also derived from the current pandemic emergency. Augmented tours will allow to virtual connect UNESCO world heritage buildings to other intangible heritage that show, e.g, common decorative details like those existing into Norman architectures. These inclusive tours will enhance the whole knowledge about Normans history in Palermo making light of a flourishing historical period for Sicily in the Mediterranean.
The main activities of PP9 in iHERITAGE aim to qualify and improve the level of information, communication and use of the UNESCO heritage relating to the «Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale» and of the others Norman artefacts (both buildings, pieces of arts and the underground water pipes -qanāt-) not included in the World Heritage List yet; to extend the valorization of Norman heritage and to maximize the involvement of public and researchers and students, through augmented and immersive experiences that can be lived also from people with disabilities, in order to promote a more inclusive society. The nine civil and religious structures of UNESCO Arab-Norman Palermo sites (two palaces, three churches, a cathedral, a bridge), dating from the era of the Norman kingdom of Sicily (1130-1194), will be virtually reconstructed, giving evidence of their original aspect and functions , for places difficult to reach too, mixing scientific information with effects digitally created.
The activities will also develop within the Living Lab and will be aimed at conducting analysis, research and development of contents with the support of SMEs and Educational Institutions, for the creation of the products envisaged by the project.

Lead beneficiary: 

Tourism Department-Region of Sicily (Italy)

Project Partners:

PP1. Network of Castles and Medieval Towns
PP2. Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations
PP3. Association of the Mediterranean Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PP4. Jordan Society for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship and Creativity
PP5. General Department of Antiquities of Giordan
PP6. Lebanese American University
PP7. University of Algarve
PP8. Andalusian Public Foundation El Legado Andalusí
PP9. University of Palermo – Department of Architecture, scientific manager, Prof. Rossella Corrao

Associate Partners:

AP1. Regione Siciliana, Assessorato Regionale delle Attività Produttive
AP2. Ministry of Culture, Lebanon-Directorate General of Antiquities
AP3. Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO
AP4. CNR-ITABC, Institute for Technologies Applied to Cultural Heritage
AP5. Municipality of Byblos-Jbeil, Lebanon
AP6. Algarve Tourism Region

iHeritage Project webpage: iHERITAGE I ENI CBC Med

Listen

iHERITAGE project and the UNESCO World Heritage Listed serial site of Arabic-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale: The University of Palermo commits the 360° images of Palermo Cathedral, Admiral's Bridge, and San Giovanni degli Eremiti's Cloister taken by D.Arch  F. Ferla, fixed-term fellow funded by iHERITAGE, a project coordinated by Prof.Rossella Corrao, to the partner entrusted with implementing the project Immersive Banner. The banner is viewabel at https://iheritagesicily.com/ .  
Below is the link to the video of the Cathedral's apses: https://youtu.be/3QG6ij706jo

Listen

During the course of Sharper 2022 - European Researchers' Night in Palermo, the resident iHeritage research group from the University of Palermo's Department of Architecture, under Prof. Rossella Corrao's coordination, showcased the first AR/VR outputs tailored to enhance accessibility to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed serial site of Arabic-Norman Palermo and the cathedral churches of Cefalù and Monreale.
REA director (Research Executive Agency) Mr Marc Tachelet visited the exhibition. He tested both the hololens developed by prof. Francesco Di Paola and D.Eng.Yuri Alogna to wonder at the hologram of Constance of Aragon's kamelaukion as well as the oculus making it possible to fly over Palermo and to enter the Royal Palace or the Cathedral (and many other Norman buildings) through the VR output currently being developed with the collaboration and support of D.Arch. Francesco Ferla and Prof. Rino Vinci, the latter being the head of the iHERITAGE Living Lab. "Impressive" was Mr Trechelet's comment!  Additionally, thanks to D.Engs. Carlo Galatolo, Matilde Campo and to prof. Marco La Cascia the AR output based on the virtual reconstructions of the Admiral's Bridge by D.Arch Marco Geraci were shown, as indeed were the holograms based on tthe surveys of Zisa and Cuba mansions which he carried out under Prof. Vincenza Garofalo's supervision. Prof Mauro Lo Brutto together with D.Engs. Marcello La Guardia and Manuela Aricò introduced laser scanning surveys and 3D reconstructions of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi churches. Here follows a link to the event video: https://youtu.be/x1jpGhaynHU

Listen