An international workshop dedicated to 3D surveying and modelling of cultural heritage will take place in early 2026 in the historic city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The initiative is organized under the direction of the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD), Politecnico di Torino, in close cooperation with AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Escuela Taller de Cartagena, and the Municipality of Cartagena, and is held with the endorsement of CIPA Heritage Documentation.

The school is offered in Spanish and is designed for young researchers, emerging professionals, PhD candidates, scholars, and specialists working in the field of cultural heritage documentation. It aims to strengthen both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in reality-based 3D modelling techniques, with a strong focus on hands-on activities and collaborative fieldwork in a complex and historically significant urban context.

Training Focus and Objectives

The activity will focus on integrated approaches to heritage documentation, combining different data acquisition and processing techniques commonly used in contemporary digital heritage workflows. Participants will explore the potential of photogrammetry, SLAM-based systems, and UAV/drone surveying for the documentation and analysis of architectural heritage and historic urban structures.

Through a combination of online lectures and on-site practical sessions, participants will gain insight into methodological aspects of 3D surveying, data integration, and modelling strategies, as well as issues related to accuracy, scale, and documentation standards. Particular attention will be given to the challenges of surveying complex fortifications and historic masonry structures within an urban environment.

On-Site Activities

During the on-site activities in Cartagena de Indias, participants will be divided into small working groups and will operate under the guidance of the tutors. Field activities will take place within the Bastion of Santo Domingo and along the historic city walls, a UNESCO-listed context of outstanding cultural value.

Each group will be responsible for the digital documentation of a specific area, from data acquisition to processing and 3D model generation. The workflow will encourage teamwork, critical discussion, and comparison between different surveying techniques. On the final day of the School, all groups will present their results, highlighting methodological choices, challenges encountered, and outcomes achieved.

Programme Structure

The School is structured as follows:

• February–March 2026:
  6 hours of online theoretical lectures, introducing key concepts, methodologies, and tools related to 3D surveying and modelling of cultural heritage.
• March 9–13, 2026:
  24 hours of intensive on-site activities in Cartagena de Indias, including field surveying, data processing, and collaborative analysis.
• March 13, 2026:
  Final presentations, closure, and award of certificates of attendance.

Total duration: 30 hours.

Tutors

• Prof. Filiberto Chiabrando, PhD
  Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino
• Arch. Giacomo Patrucco, PhD
  Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino

Participation and Requirements

The maximum number of participants is 20, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD candidates, researchers, and professional architects. The course is free of charge.

Participants are required to bring a medium-to-high performance laptop and, if possible, a digital camera. Surveying instruments and data processing software will be provided by the organizing institutions.

Application Procedure

To apply, candidates must send an email by February 10, 2026 to:
paolo.mellano@polito.it and annalisa.dameri@polito.it

Email subject:
Candidatura Escuela de Primavera

Required attachment:

• A concise CV (maximum one page)

Posted on behalf of the organizing committee of Escuela de Primavera – Levantar la Muralla. For any inquiries about this school, please contact paolo.mellano@polito.it and annalisa.dameri@polito.it.