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Peter Fornaro

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Peter Fornaro, 2025.

Peter Fornaro (born April 3, 1973) is a Swiss scholar working at the intersection of imaging science, digital preservation, and the digital humanities. He is currently Titular Professor of Digital Humanities at the University of Basel, where he also leads major infrastructure and research projects at the Digital Humanities Lab.[1]

Biography

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Peter Fornaro began his career through the Swiss vocational education system with a four-year apprenticeship as an Automation Technician (Automatiker EFZ) at Kriegel & Schaffner AG in Basel (now part of the ETAVIS Group). This Swiss Federal VET program trains specialists in automation systems, including programming, control systems, and technical documentation.

He earned a diploma in electrical engineering from the engineering college HTL in Muttenz in 1996 (now FHNW School of Engineering), specializing in computer and communication technologies. He later trained as a scientific photographer Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Basel under Prof. R. Gschwind, focusing on analog silver halide photography, digital imaging, image processing, archival systems, and early web technologies.

Fornaro studied experimental physics Department of Physics, University of Basel. He earned his PhD in 2004 under Prof. Ernst Meier with a dissertation on scanning probe microscopy and the influence of tip geometry on measurement precision.

Alongside his scientific work, Fornaro completed a Master of Advanced Studies in Business administration and Marketing in 2005, and an MBA in Business Development and Marketing in 2024, both at the University of Basel.

He has held postdoctoral and teaching positions at Digital Humanities Lab (formerly Imaging and Media Lab) and at Réseau Cinéma Suisse, where he coordinated the technology curriculum in areas such as visual media, lighting, and perception. In 2018, he completed his habilitation in Digital humanities at the University of Basel with a thesis on image documentation in art and culture.

Fornaro teaches at the Universities of Basel, and Lugano (Università della Svizzera italiana), specifically digital imaging, color-science, digital preservation, and artificial intelligence. His work in color science and media technology includes imaging workflows, color calibration, and the digital reproduction of artworks, with contributions to standardization in cultural heritage digitization.[2][3]

Fornaro currently serves as a member of the board of Memoriav, the Swiss association dedicated to preserving audio-visual cultural heritage.[4] He is also the founding president and a committee member of DHCH (Digital Humanities Switzerland). Additionally, he is a councilor of the Photoconsortium, an international network dedicated to photographic heritage and digital culture policy [5][6][7]

His career bridges technical training and academic leadership, spanning science, the humanities, and cultural heritage through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.

Research Projects

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Peter Fornaro has led or co-led numerous research projects in the areas of digital preservation, scientific imaging, and infrastructure for the humanities. His work frequently bridges the gap between technical innovation and the preservation of cultural heritage. Notable projects include:

Ongoing Projects

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  • DSD – Digitales Schaudepot: A platform supporting digitization and long-term preservation in GLAM institutions through coordinated workflows and infrastructure. A key subproject, Curiositas 5.0, digitally reconstructs the 17th-century Museum Faesch in Basel. [8]
  • Digital Originals in 3D (2025–2028): A research project focused on developing new techniques for 3D digitization of cultural heritage objects to support reproducibility, accessibility, and scholarly analysis.
  • Deep Digital Materiality (2024–2028): A research project extending surface imaging technologies for application in conservation, restoration, and curatorial studies. Funded under the BRIDGE program by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Innosuisse.

Completed Projects

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  • Digital Materiality (2013–2018): Research on the measurement and digital reproduction of light-surface interactions to enhance the rendering of artworks in digital formats.[12]
  • PEVIAR – Digital Originals on Microfilm: (2006–2008) Development of a self-explaining archival method for digital preservation using photographic media.[16]
  • AFRESA – Film Archive Digitization: (2008–2011) Optimization of digitization workflows for museum-based film collections.[17]

Early Research Projects

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  • Optical Tweezers Project (2000–2001): Development of ultra-low-noise amplifiers and FPGA-based control systems for laser tweezers in bioanalysis (with Prof. N. Hegner, Physics Department, University of Basel).
  • FAMARAS – Atomic Force Microscope for the Phoenix Mars Mission (1999–2001): Software and hardware development for space-grade microscopy instrumentation (with Dr. H.R. Hidber, University of Basel).
  • Neuronal NOSE Project (1997–2000): Design and prototyping of an intelligent molecular sensor using microlever arrays and machine learning principles. Development involved FPGA programming and sensor integration.

Professional and Entrepreneurial Activities

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Fornaro has also been active in applied research, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship:

  • Patent: Co-inventor of the international patent application – Computer System and Method for Improved Gloss Representation in Digital Imaging, filed in the European Union, United States, Japan, and China.[18]
  • Truvis AG (since 2017): Founder and board member of Truvis AG, a spin-off company from the University of Basel specializing in digital imaging technologies.
  • Bitsave AG (2008–2018): Founder and Chairman of Bitsave AG, based in Kehrsatz, a company focused on system solutions and consulting for digital long-term archiving.
  • Consulting roles (since 2006): Fornaro has held consulting mandates in the fields of digitization and archival systems for institutions including: Messe Schweiz, Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, Jenoptik (Leica), Swiss Data Safe AG, Swiss National Museum, Ringier Bildarchiv

Selected Publications

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  • Fornaro, P., & Chiquet, V. (2024). Curiositas 5.0: Real-world challenges in data acquisition, interoperability, and storytelling. Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, 68(4), 1–8. [19]
  • Weber, C. P., & Fornaro, P. (2024). Interactive and immersive city exploration through augmented reality. In Euromed 2024, Limassol, Cyprus. [20]
  • Felsing, U., Fornaro, P., & Raemy, J. A. (2023). Community and interoperability at the core of sustaining image archives. University of Oslo Library. [21]
  • Manz, M. C., & Fornaro, P. (2023). Recommended 3D workflow for digital heritage practices. Society for Imaging Science and Technology Conference Proceedings. [22]
  • Chiquet, V., & Fornaro, P. (2021). Fotografie und Kuration im Digitalen. Rundbrief Fotografie, 28(2), 16–24. [23]
  • Fornaro, P., & Chiquet, V. (2020). Artificial intelligence for content and context metadata retrieval in images and image groups. IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings. [24]
  • Chiquet, V., & Fornaro, P. (2020). Digitale Infrastrukturen in den Geisteswissenschaften: Erfahrungen aus den Digitalisierungsprojekten des DaSCH. In U. Andraschke & S. Wagner (Eds.), Objekte im Netz: Wissenschaftliche Sammlungen im digitalen Wandel (pp. 305–318). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. [25]
  • Fornaro, P., & Chiquet, V. (2020). Artificial intelligence for content and context metadata retrieval in images and image groups. IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings. [26]
  • Fornaro, P. (2020). Digitale Fotografie im Museum. In M. Fehlmann & K. Heiniger (Eds.), Jahresbericht des Historischen Museums Basel 2019. [27]
  • Fornaro, P., & Hunziker-Rodewald, R. (2019). RTI images for documentation in archaeology: The case of the Iron Age female terracotta figurines from Buṣayra, Jordan. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 7(2), 188–204.[28][29]
  • Fornaro, P., & Chiquet, V. (2019). Enhanced Reflectance Transformation Imaging for Research and Interoperability. In: Stadtarchäologie Wien (Ed.), Proceedings of the 20th Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies (CHNT 20). Vienna: Stadtarchäologie Wien. [30]
  • Fornaro, P., Bianco, A., Kaiser, A., & Rosenthaler, L. (2017). Enhanced RTI for gloss reproduction. Electronic Imaging 2017, 8, 66–72. [31]
  • Rosenthaler, L., Geer, B., Subotic, I., Schweizer, T., & Fornaro, P. (2017). A platform for long-term accessibility of research data in the humanities. Digital Humanities 2017 Conference, Montréal. [32]
  • Fornaro, P., Bianco, A., & Rosenthaler, L. (2016). Digital materiality with enhanced reflectance transformation imaging. IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings, Washington, D.C. [33]
  • Fornaro, P., et al. (2016). Neue computerbasierte Verfahren zur Wiedergabe von Kunstwerken. Rundbrief Fotografie, 23(1), 14–23. [34]
  • Müller, F., Fornaro, P., Rosenthaler, L., & Gschwind, R. (2010). PEVIAR: Digital originals. ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 3(1), Article 2. [35]

References

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  1. ^ "Prof. Dr. Peter Fornaro – Digital Humanities Lab, Universität Basel". dhlab.philhist.unibas.ch. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  2. ^ "On the Utility of Colour in Shape Analysis", Fornaro et al., PMC
  3. ^ Fornaro et al., "Enhanced RTI for Digital Documentation", DH2017
  4. ^ "Vorstand – Memoriav". Memoriav (in German). Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  5. ^ "Steering Committee – Photoconsortium". Photoconsortium. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  6. ^ "VirtualCulture". Photoconsortium. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  7. ^ "Individual Members – Photoconsortium". Photoconsortium. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  8. ^ Fornaro, P., & Chiquet, V. (2024). Curiositas 5.0: Real-world challenges in data acquisition, interoperability, and storytelling. *Journal of Imaging Science and Technology*, 68(4), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.2024.68.4.040404
  9. ^ "Participatory Knowledge Practices in Analogue and Digital Image Archives (PIA)". University of Basel – UNIVerse. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  10. ^ "Grant 193788 – Sinergia Project: PIA". Swiss National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  11. ^ "Grant 198538 – Data and Service Center for the Humanities". Swiss National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  12. ^ "Grant 150306 – Digital Materiality". Swiss National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  13. ^ "Projekt 34224 – CAPcam". ARAMIS – Forschungsdatenbank des Bundes (in German). Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  14. ^ "Monolith 2 (11845.2) – Projektübersicht". ARAMIS (in German). Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  15. ^ "KTI-Projekt Monolith (9287.1)". ARAMIS. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  16. ^ Müller, Florian; Fornaro, Peter; Rosenthaler, Lukas; Gschwind, Rudolf (2010). "PEVIAR: Digital originals". ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage. 3 (1). Association for Computing Machinery. doi:10.1145/1805961.1805963.
  17. ^ "Project 24948 – AFRESA". ARAMIS – Swiss Federal Research Database. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  18. ^ "US20190080509A1 – Computer System and Method for Improved Gloss Representation in Digital Imaging". Google Patents. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  19. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Chiquet, Vera (2024). "Curiositas 5.0: Real-world challenges in data acquisition, interoperability, and storytelling". Journal of Imaging Science and Technology. 68 (4). Society for Imaging Science and Technology: 1–8. doi:10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.2024.68.4.040404.
  20. ^ "Interactive & Immersive City Exploration through Augmented Reality" (PDF). EuroMed 2024 conference booklet. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  21. ^ Felsing, Ute; Fornaro, Peter; Raemy, Julien A. (2023). "Community and interoperability at the core of sustaining image archives". Digital Humanities in the Nordic Countries Publications. 5. University of Oslo Library: 40–54. doi:10.5617/dhnbpub.10649.
  22. ^ Manz, Marian C.; Fornaro, Peter (2023). "Recommended 3D Workflow for Digital Heritage Practices". Society for Imaging Science and Technology Conference Proceedings. 20 (1). Society for Imaging Science and Technology: 5. doi:10.2352/issn.2168-3204.2023.20.1.5.
  23. ^ Chiquet, Vera; Fornaro, Peter (2021). "Fotografie und Kuration im Digitalen". Rundbrief Fotografie (in German). 28 (2). Verlag Dr. Wolfgang Seidel: 16–24.
  24. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Chiquet, Vera (2020). "Artificial intelligence for content and context metadata retrieval in images and image groups". IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings. Society for Imaging Science and Technology: 79–82. doi:10.2352/issn.2168-3204.2020.1.0.79.
  25. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Chiquet, Vera (2021). "Das Digital Humanities Lab der Universität Basel und die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit mit der Kunstgeschichte und der Archäologie". Zeitschrift für Schweizerische Archäologie und Kunstgeschichte (in German). 77 (2–3). Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum: 118–125.
  26. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Chiquet, Vera (2020). "Artificial intelligence for content and context metadata retrieval in images and image groups". IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings. Society for Imaging Science and Technology: 79–82. doi:10.2352/issn.2168-3204.2020.1.0.79.
  27. ^ Fornaro, Peter (2020). Fehlmann, Matthias; Heiniger, Karin (eds.). Digitale Fotografie im Museum (PDF) (in German). Historisches Museum Basel.
  28. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Hunziker-Rodewald, Regine (2019). "RTI Images for Documentation in Archaeology: The Case of the Iron Age Female Terracotta Figurines from Buṣayra, Jordan". Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies. 7 (2): 188–204. doi:10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.7.2.0188.
  29. ^ "RTI Images for Documentation in Archaeology (JSTOR)". JSTOR. doi:10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.7.2.0188. JSTOR 10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.7.2.0188. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  30. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Chiquet, Vera (2019). Stadtarchäologie Wien (ed.). Enhanced Reflectance Transformation Imaging for Research and Interoperability. 20th Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies (CHNT 20). Vienna: Stadtarchäologie Wien.
  31. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Bianco, Andrea; Kaiser, Aeneas; Rosenthaler, Lukas (2017). "Enhanced RTI for gloss reproduction". Electronic Imaging 2017. 29 (8). Society for Imaging Science and Technology: 66–72. doi:10.2352/ISSN.2470-1173.2017.8.MAAP-284.
  32. ^ Rosenthaler, Lukas; Geer, Benjamin; Subotic, Ivan; Schweizer, Tobias; Fornaro, Peter (2017). A platform for long-term accessibility of research data in the humanities (PDF). Digital Humanities 2017. Montréal.
  33. ^ Fornaro, Peter; Bianco, Andrea; Rosenthaler, Lukas (2016). "Digital materiality with enhanced reflectance transformation imaging". IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings. 13. Washington, D.C.: Society for Imaging Science and Technology: 11–14. doi:10.2352/issn.2168-3204.2016.1.0.11.
  34. ^ Fornaro, Peter (2016). "Neue computerbasierte Verfahren zur Wiedergabe von Kunstwerken". Rundbrief Fotografie (in German). 23 (1). Verlag Dr. Wolfgang Seidel: 14–23.
  35. ^ Müller, Florian; Fornaro, Peter; Rosenthaler, Lukas; Gschwind, Rudolf (2010). "PEVIAR: Digital originals". ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage. 3 (1). Association for Computing Machinery. doi:10.1145/1805961.1805963.
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