Valorisation of history and landscape for promoting the memory of WWI

Abstract In recent years many activities were conducted to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the First World War (WWI) outbreak. Among these, the valorisation of history and landscape (VAST) project ( http://vast.fbk.eu ) was part of the initiatives promoted by the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy) as a tribute to WWI events in the region. The project was primarily aimed to document and promote, through 3D digitization approaches, ICT technologies and communication material, the memory of sites, theatre of the world conflict. The Trento's area was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of WWI and on the border with the Italian Kingdom. The area represented a crucial and bloody war front between the Austrian and Italian territories. It was thus constellated of military fortresses, trenches and tunnels, most of them now ruined and at risk to slowly disappear. 3D surveying and modelling techniques were exploited to produce 3D digital models of structures and objects, along with virtual tours, dissemination material and a WebGIS of the area. All the products are now used for restoration, valorisation, educational and communication purposes.