Preserving the Sacred In Situ: A Scalable Model for Hybrid Religious Heritage Documentation

Abstract
An interdisciplinary approach underpins the PaReS project (Painted Relic Shrines in Situ), which explores medieval painted reliquary shrines preserved in situ in Belgian churches. Combining high-resolution 3D photogrammetry, non-invasive scientific imaging (IRR, X-ray, MA-XRF), physically based rendering (PBR), art historical and archival reasearch, the project documents and analyses these fragile, hybrid heritage objects situated at the intersection of materiality, devotion, and historical memory. A methodological contribution lies in the integration of three complementary domains-historical documentation, digital acquisition, and scientific analysis-into a reproducible, site-specific protocol. This framework has already revealed material and stylistic transformations over time. For instance, modelling of the Shrine of St Eucherius indicated phased construction, while IRR findings on the Shrine of St Livinus challenge its conventional dating. By making data accessible via open-access platform and engaging students and local communities, PaReS combines academic rigour with public outreach. Its workflow offers a transferable model for the documentation and conservation of sacred heritage.
Description

CCS Concepts: Computing methodologies → Image-based rendering; Information systems → Document collection models

        
@inproceedings{
10.2312:dh.20253251
, booktitle = {
Digital Heritage
}, editor = {
Campana, Stefano
and
Ferdani, Daniele
and
Graf, Holger
and
Guidi, Gabriele
and
Hegarty, Zackary
and
Pescarin, Sofia
and
Remondino, Fabio
}, title = {{
Preserving the Sacred In Situ: A Scalable Model for Hybrid Religious Heritage Documentation
}}, author = {
Schenkel, Arnaud
and
Muyle, Carla
and
Guillaume, Henry-Louis
and
Reyniers, Jeroen
and
Henderiks, Valentine
and
Vercruysse, Lowie
and
Janssens, Koen
and
Debeir, Olivier
}, year = {
2025
}, publisher = {
The Eurographics Association
}, ISBN = {
978-3-03868-277-6
}, DOI = {
10.2312/dh.20253251
} }
Citation