Virtual Venice: Exploring Miozzi’s Floating Motorway Project Through 3D Models

Historical archival documentation plays a vital role in understanding the geographical and cultural evolution of a territory. The introduction of modern digital technologies has revolutionized this field, enabling more dynamic forms of research. Digital visualization techniques, including 3D models and environmental simulations, provide an enhanced understanding of historical projects, making them accessible to a wider audience. Digitizing historical sources allows not only for document preservation but also for reconstructing territories and unrealized projects in three dimensions. This approach transforms static interpretations into tangible visual representations, facilitating the analysis of territorial transformations and infrastructure development. A notable example is Eugenio Miozzi’s 1952 project for a floating motorway connecting Campalto and Punta Sabbioni in Venice. Miozzi’s plan addressed the need to overcome the discontinuity between land and water, proposing a solution that redefined Venice’s urban relationship with its surrounding landscape. By integrating archival data with digital reconstruction methods, researchers created a 3D model of the lagoon bed and structural elements of the project. Georeferencing historical data and processing bathymetric information enabled a precise and detailed model. The interoperability of digital models allowed for clearer visualization and interdisciplinary collaboration. The digital reconstruction highlighted construction details that were otherwise unclear, such as the layout of floating pontoons and the interaction between structural elements. This process not only emphasized the complexity and innovation of Miozzi’s proposal but also offered valuable insights into its potential practical implications.