What is HBIM?
Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) functions as the historical counterpart to BIM, designed specifically for ancient and historic structures rather than contemporary construction. HBIM extends beyond basic geometric 3D modeling by integrating historical documentation, semantic metadata, and material specifications into a single coordinated model.
The methodology represents a significant shift from traditional archaeological documentation practices. Rather than relying on fragmentary records and isolated drawings, HBIM preserves comprehensive spatial and contextual information for future researchers while supporting analysis of construction phases and structural integrity.
A typical HBIM workflow involves acquiring precise point clouds through laser scanning and photogrammetry, processing these datasets into true orthophotos, and developing parametric models enriched with historical data. Each building element carries information about its material, dimensions, date, source of evidence, and degree of reconstruction certainty.
Key Advantages
HBIM offers significant benefits for heritage documentation: enhanced recording of current conditions, systematic material analysis, visualization of lost or hypothetical building phases, informed conservation planning, and public accessibility through interactive 3D viewers, AR, and VR technologies.
Application to the Osireion
For the Osireion, the HBIM approach meant that every modeled element — each granite pillar, each architrave, each chamber wall — is linked to its source: a specific plate in Frankfort's 1933 publication, a For the Osireion, the HBIM approach means that every modelled element – every granite column, every architrave, every chamber wall – must ideally be linked to its source: a specific plate in Frankfort’s 1933 publication, a measurement from the AEGARON survey, or the careful analysis of photographs, videos or 3D animations generated from point clouds. Where the archaeological and other data are incomplete or ambiguous, the model documents the degree of uncertainty. This distinguishes the reconstruction from a purely visual exercise: it is a research tool, not a speculative visualisation.
Software
The model was created in Archicad (Graphisoft), one of the leading BIM authoring platforms. The model is exportable to IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) for interoperability and is available as a BIMx Hypermodel for interactive exploration in the browser or on mobile.