E’95: Computerized Catalog of Venetian Decorative Keystones

Click here to visit this project's page on Prof. Carrera's website.

Summary
The goal of this project was to contribute to the restoration of decorative keystones by creating a comprehensive computerized catalog of this particular outdoor art. They also planned to develop the methodology for cataloging and refine the method for grading the keystones. They catalogued a total of 307 keystones, including pictures and information about the piece’s location, condition, dimensions, and artistic characteristics. They used software like Access, MapInfo, and a Geographical Information System to record keystone data.
In the past, Venetian keystones have been neglected as a form of outdoor art because they perform a structural purpose. This project represents the first effort made to catalog these artworks. Using the information that they had gathered, the team calculated the cost of restoration and the importance of the individual keystone. The team ultimately determined that about 30% of these decorative keystones were in poor condition and needed a restorative intervention.

Team
Minn Ayetut
Takehiro Kawano
Frank Chou

Sponsor
Founded by Professor Fabio Carrera in 1988, the Venice Project Center @ WPI is an academic initiative designed to allow undergraduate engineering students to study abroad, to apply skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems, to further develop these skills, and to provide valuable assistance to a city endangered by environmental, socio-economic and man-made factors.