Tracing the Past: analysing the design and construction of English medieval vaults using digital techniques

Tracing the Past: analysing the design and construction of English medieval vaults using digital techniques was an AHRC-funded research project based at the University of Liverpool (PI Dr Nicholas Webb, CI Dr Alexandrina Buchanan, RA Dr James Hillson, Technicians Dr Sarah Duffy and JR Peterson) that took place from 01 September 2018 until 31 August 2021. The project had the following research questions: 1. How were medieval vaults imagined and designed by masons and clients? 2. How were vaults constructed, including issues of making (stone-cutting), installing (scaffolding and formwork), structure (engineering) and managing complex site construction teams. 3. What factors led to innovations in vault design, and where and when did these occur? 4. What can we learn about the transfer of ideas in design, construction, skills and personnel between different vault sets at individual locations, as well as how these were deployed at different sites locally, nationally and internationally, over extended periods? 5. What do these findings tell us about medieval architectural design and technology, creativity and innovation? The research focused on thirteenth and fourteenth-century vaults at a number of case study sites in England, each of which has its own dedicated page. These were scanned using a Faro laser scanner (we also tested other data capture methods including photogrammetry and total station), and the data was converted into point cloud and mesh models. Key data, generally the intrados lines, were traced using Rhinoceros 3D in order to create wireframe models which could be analysed in two and three dimensions. Data archived includes raw scans in proprietary FLS format and vendor neutral e57 format, orthophotos of key sections and plans at each site, as well as mesh and point cloud models of individual vault bays. Full project details, including discussion of methodology and findings, are available from the main Tracing the Past website.