Digital Informative Models of Early Modern Military Architecture Treatises. Methodological Approach and First Results.

This paper presents a novel methodological framework, developed within the INFORTREAT project, to extract and digitally translate the constructive knowledge embedded in early modern military architecture treatises. To overcome the fragmentation of historical geometric and proportional rules, the study integrates Visual Programming Languages (VPL) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to generate dynamic, geometrically coherent information models. The workflow encompasses critical interpretation, parametric modeling via Grasshopper, BIM semantic enrichment using Rhino.Inside.Revit, and interactive Web-BIM sharing. Tested on treatises by Lorini, Sardi, Tensini, and Guarini, the research highlights the necessity for flexible modeling strategies. While the first three authors allowed for surface-composition algorithms based on the defended polygon, Guarini’s unique tabular dimensional data required a distinct, cluster-based approach to ensure geometric continuity. Ultimately, the deployment of these models via browser-based WebGL platforms demonstrates the effectiveness of parametric HBIM workflows in formalizing theoretical knowledge for the interpretation and management of fortified heritage.