Simone Pio Barbagallo
Researcher in AI for Cultural Heritage & Serious Games
Research & Professional Profiles
Research Profile
I am a PhD Candidate in Computer Science (40th cycle) at the University of Catania, conducting research within the Archeomatica Lab under Prof. Filippo Stanco. My work sits at the convergence of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Humanities, and Cultural Heritage, developing intelligent systems that combine Large Language Models, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Computer Vision, and 3D technologies to create immersive and accessible cultural heritage experiences.
Alongside AI-driven cultural heritage systems, I investigate Game Studies and Serious Games as vehicles for cultural knowledge transmission. My research explores how game design principles — narrative agency, immersive mechanics, and interactive storytelling — can serve as powerful frameworks for engaging audiences with historical and archaeological content, contributing to the fields of game-based learning, game literacy, and transmedia education within the Digital Humanities.
Research Interests
Publications
Tracing the Evolution of Scientific Discourse: A Corpus-Driven Analysis of Scientific Cultural Heritage Publications in the Age of LLM
PRESTIGE 2026 Workshop @ ICPR 2026
Grounding Multimodal Interaction in Cultural Heritage: A RAG-Based Framework over Structured Metadata and 3D Assets
AIAr PhD Day, Springer Nature
Cultural Heritage acquisition: comparing Gaussian Splatting with other state-of-the-art technologies
ArcheoFOSS 2026
A Retrieval-Based Framework for Accessible Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage
2026 IEEE 23rd International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals & Devices (SSD), Catania, Italy, pp. 1163–1170
DOI: 10.1109/SSD69655.2026.11559003A modular AI-powered framework for semantic retrieval and dialogue in serious games for cultural heritage
ICIAP 2025 – 23rd International Conference on Image Analysis and Processing, PatReCH Workshop, 5th Ed.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-11381-8_24Hidden monuments revealed: 3D digitization of the Benedictine Monastery of Catania and its stratified spaces
IMEKO TC26 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
DOI: 10.21014/tc26-2025.095Modeling memory: Ethical reuse and AI training with archaeologist-produced 3D reconstructions
IMEKO TC26 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
DOI: 10.21014/tc26-2025.144Digitalisation and valorisation of stratified landscapes: analyses of IT strategies in the archaeological field
Heritage, Special Issue CHANGES Foundation, MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/heritage9020065From Representational Events to Cognitive Ecologies: Designing Meaningful Interactions in AI-Driven Cultural Interfaces
Journal of Inclusive Methodology and Technology in Learning and Teaching, 5(3)
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19087314Game Literacy and Cultural Heritage: Serious Games and Storytelling as Transmedia Educational Tools
Journal of Inclusive Methodology and Technology in Learning and Teaching, 5(3)
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19087565Approcci multidisciplinari a un sito pluristratificato. Le chiese rupestri di Pantalica
In: Pantalica. Ricerche su un sito pluristratificato. Vol. II, Edizioni Quasar, Roma, pp. 69–91
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19050303Seminars & Masterclasses
Matterport Pro 3 for 3D Digitization and Metric Survey
User-Centered Design and Human–Computer Interaction
Digital Humanities in Game Design
Virtual Heritage & 3D Research
Virtual tours produced as part of the research activities of the CHANGES project and the Archeomatica Lab (UNICT).
Academic & Research Profiles
Scientific presence across major international academic platforms.
UNICT, DMI
Institutional Profile
Official page at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Catania. Central registry for PhD students, research staff, and academic activities.
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Persistent Researcher ID
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Academic Citations & Metrics
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Italian CS Research Network
Italian Computer Science research community portal. Primary registry for national research evaluation (VQR, ASN, and SSD sector classification).
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3D Cultural Heritage Lab · UNICT
Research laboratory directed by Prof. Filippo Stanco at UNICT, specializing in 3D digitization, photogrammetry, and AI-powered tools for cultural heritage documentation and valorization.
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Academic Social Network
Academic social network for sharing full-text papers, tracking reads and citations, and connecting with researchers worldwide through RG Score.
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Abstract & Citation Database · Elsevier
Elsevier's abstract and citation index covering 25,000+ peer-reviewed journals. The standard reference for bibliometric analysis, H-index calculation, and journal rankings.
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Citation Index · Clarivate
Clarivate's multidisciplinary citation index with Journal Impact Factor and ResearcherID, covering high-impact international journals and conferences.
Visit ProfileTechnical & Professional Skills
Programming
AI & Machine Learning
3D Technologies
Game Dev
Web Development
Data & Ontologies
Education & Academic Service
Education
2024 – Present
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Catania
Supervisor: Prof. Filippo Stanco · PhD Students Representative (2024–2026 & 2025–2027)
2024 – 2025
Master in Digital and Immersive Technologies for Art and Culture
In collaboration with TuoMuseo by Fabio Viola
2021 – 2024
M.A. in Digital Humanities (LM-43)
Department of Humanities, University of Catania
Thesis: Ergodic Literature and Game Design. Innovative Approaches for Cultural Heritage
110/110 cum laudeDec 2022
Writing for Gaming: Interactive Storytelling & Narrative Design
Marco Mazzaglia & Giuseppe Enrico Franchi
2018 – 2021
Department of Humanities, University of Catania
Thesis: Philosophy and Computer Science. Analysis of Some Methodological Analogies
102/110Research Projects
Academic Service
Academic Professional Experience
Contact
For research collaborations, conference invitations, peer review requests, or academic inquiries, feel free to reach out.
simone.barbagallo@phd.unict.it