Conserving Architectural Heritage through Hybrid Strategies and Open Technologies in the Phygital Era

In the current context of digital transformation, the MATHE method proposes a phygital strategy for the conservation, documentation and dissemination of architectural heritage. Tested on the Optical Telegraph Line between Madrid and Valencia, this integrated system combines Web-GIS, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in a coherent heritage valorisation proposal. The MATHE-GIS platform organises georeferenced and alphanumeric data in an accessible, open format, while MATHE-AR and MATHE-VR tools extend the heritage experience beyond physical boundaries. These technologies provide a hybrid, both on-site and off-site, experience that enhances users' understanding of cultural assets. It concludes that virtualisation, far from replacing the heritage object, constitutes a strategic avenue for its study, interpretation and dissemination, enabling more democratic, participatory and sustainable access.