3D modeling and rapid prototyping for the knowledge, conservation and valorization of architectural heritage in Sicily

3D modeling, reverse engineering and rapid prototyping procedures – already usually for industrial design – are today approaching the architectural world and becoming a valuable support to the study of historic/modern buildings. The opportunity to quickly obtain not only virtual but also physical models of existing, destroyed or never realized architecture – based on data acquired by laser scanner and/or resulting from the interpretation of archive documents - offers new possibilities for a proper documentation, conservation and valorization. Prototypes produced by 3D printers and CNC machines allow a deeper understanding of architecture and its easier communication. The acquisition is the first step in the data processing to which follows the 3D modeling for the creation of both virtual and physical replicas, able to provide a realistic object description. The new opportunities are not simply related to the use of maquettes (ancient practice, even if expensive in terms of time and effort), but to their multiple production. The 3D modeling software transforms the cloud’s fragmentary data from a discrete or continuous surface into a polygonal model allowing editing processes to correct errors and/or reconstruct gaps in the surface to be printed. Besides, this latter can be web-shared and used to realize copies everywhere. This paper aims to highlight the benefits received by the coupling between the digital and physical models, showing experiences made on Sicilian architectural heritage.