The same three-dimensional laser scanning technology used to monitor the Colosseum in Rome, Italy will be used in a conservation project at the Ipiranga Museum in São Paulo, Brazil. Beatriz Kuhl , a professor at the University of São Paulo’s Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU-USP), presented the initiative, which is scheduled to begin in July, during FAPESP Week London , held June 2–4 in the British capital.
The project involves a complete scan of the museum, inside and out. The goal is to analyze the behavior of the building following the restoration work carried out in recent years, establish a monitoring system, and, most importantly, create an information management model for preventive conservation purposes based on the HBIM (Historic Building Information Modeling) methodology. HBIM is a 3D modeling process for historic buildings and sites that reproduces all the physical and functional characteristics of the structure within a three-dimensional digital simulation. It integrates technologies, processes, data, people, and the history of the building.
“The idea is to feed an HBIM system with data from a specific area of the museum and then manage information about its conservation processes," Kuhl explained to Agência FAPESP .
Built between 1885 and 1890, the museum spent a decade closed to the public and resumed activities in September 2022 ( read more at: agencia.fapesp.br/39578 ).
The DIAPReM laboratory at the University of Ferrara in Italy will carry out the technical execution of the scanning. This is the same team that recently completed the scanning of the Colosseum. The partnership between the Italian group, FAU-USP researchers, and the Center for Cultural Preservation at USP (CPC-USP) has existed for several years. The same team scanned the FAU-USP building, which was designed by Vilanova Artigas. They are now returning to the Ipiranga Museum to document the condition of the monument following restoration.
The continuity of the partnership is strategic. “To have truly comparable data, it’s essential to use the same methodology and reference points,” Kuhl stated. “Depending on how the scanning is done, there can be many inaccuracies. If it’s very well planned with a high degree of consistency, it yields precise results.”
Periodic scanning
A shoe box-sized, portable equipment emits laser beams that map the geometric coordinates of every point on the interior and exterior surfaces of the building with millimeter precision. In addition to geometry, the scanner captures reflectance data, which is the percentage of emitted light that returns to the sensor. This percentage varies depending on the material encountered, its moisture content, or the presence of mold.
This variation allows anomalies to be identified. “When we detect a point that differs from its neighbor and should be identical, we can ask whether that indicates some pathological condition,” Kuhl explained. The resulting data form a dense point cloud that serves as both a geometric record of the building and a means of diagnosing structural and conservation issues.
The scanning will be performed periodically without interfering with the operations of the museum. “A scanner will operate inside and outside the museum from time to time. The museum will absolutely not be closed, nor will its routine be altered,” the researcher assured.
Preventive conservation
The Ipiranga Museum project is part of a broader line of research that Kuhl has been developing for years at FAU-USP. This research focuses on preventive conservation, which aims to anticipate and avoid problems before they require costly and invasive interventions.
A previous project, funded by the Getty Foundation as part of the Keeping It Modern program, investigated the state of conservation of the FAU-USP building. The project generated recommendations that influenced specific renovations, such as a new roof waterproofing system and an access ramp to the building. However, Kuhl acknowledges that changing the culture of public heritage maintenance remains challenging.
“We’re still unable to act preventively because there’s a large backlog to address,” she admitted. “But this new research aims precisely to achieve that goal: to anticipate and avoid more invasive interventions.”
Kuhl believes that the Brazilian experience can benefit from established international references, such as the Casa de Rui Barbosa in Rio de Janeiro, where a systematic policy of preventive conservation was successfully implemented in the first two decades of this century.
On the theoretical side, the professor’s research group will engage in critical reflection on advanced diagnostic methods and their relationship with conceptual issues in conservation and the development of conservation plans. “These are two things that create tension and help us see problems in a different light,” she concluded.
More information about FAPESP Week London is available at fapesp.br/week/2026/london .
About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe