Cultural and Heritage Buildings Maintenance Through Digital Twins

Digital Twins (DT) are virtual models of physical objects that are data and sensor-driven. Created using imaging, scanning, and sensor data, as dynamic 3D models they are intended to mirror real-world objects and systems.

Over the last decade such replicas have become commonplace across industries such as product design, architecture, urban planning and built heritage conservation and maintenance.

Currently, within the UK, DT programmes are being rolled out as key strategic infrastructure for monitoring the built environment, manage climate transitions and supporting the repair and maintenace of built environment heritage.

As a group of artists, designers and researchers, Repair Acts is interested in how these DT-technologies operate, what histories of technology they draw on and how their design is shaping the monitoring of the built environment and heritage. We are also interested in how these models are being augmented by machine learning and artifical intelligence, what ways of experiencing our built environments they are reproducing or negating, and what commonplace understandings existing about such models.

This workshop is intended for individuals and organisations in Bristol engaged in the custodianship of built-environment heritage that supports cultural, artistic, and community needs. The introductory session will provide a forum for collective discussion and critical reflection on the potential applications of DT models in heritage contexts. Through a collaborative exploration of their potential value, affordances, and limitations, the workshop aims to develop a more critical grounding for the values of such models in the stewardship, interpretation, and management of built environment heritage.

Agenda:

10:00: Welcome & Introduction

10.30: Group Discussion

11.00: Activity 1

11.30: Feedback on Activity

11.45: Thanks and Close

12.00: Finish

This introductory workshop is led by Repair Acts, together with computational designer Ben Drusinsky and Materials In Mind. It is part of Celebrating Repair Cultures (Oct 3rd - 17th), a city-wide Bristol programme exploring our relationship with things through hands-on workshops, talks, performances, and community mending. Bringing together local repair cafés, makers, artists, and researchers across venues like the CUBE, Pervasive Media Studio, Arnolfini, and SPARKS, the two-week series features a dedicated digital repair and debate day at Bristol City Hall, a Material Cabaret on Lightship 55, and the 10th Anniversary of International Repair Day. Discover the full programme and join the conversation at repairacts.net.