Virtual reconstruction of Medieval monastery using CAD model

Abstract

A 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) virtual reconstruction of the medieval monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas (Portugal) is presented. This monastery is the second largest Cistercian monastery of Portugal. However, the majority of the monastery disappeared after the extinction of the religious orders in the Age of Enlightenment without letting any vestige, and with almost no existing documentation. In order to allow visitors to better understand the monument and to assist the current conservation works, a virtual reconstruction of the medieval monastery is presented. The adopted approach for reconstruction includes the identification of an ideal plan of the Cistercian Order, comparison with similar buildings of the same period and architectonic styles, an historic study and in-situ survey to detect parts from the previous building, and definition of the modeling unit or proportion used by the builders.