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Prof. Dr. Peter Fornaro in 2024 at the University of Basel.

Peter Fornaro

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.

Biography

Peter Fornaro began his career through the vocational education system, earning a diploma in electrical engineering at the FHNW School of Engineering in 1996, with a specialization in computer and communication technologies. He later trained as a scientific photographer at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Basel under Prof. R. Gschwind, where he focused on conventional silver halide photography, digital imaging, image processing and reconstruction, archival systems, and early web-based technologies.

He subsequently studied experimental physics at the Department of Physics, University of Basel. Prior to his doctorate, he completed an equivalence program at the Department of Physics under Prof. Hans-Joachim Güntherodt, which formally recognized his HTL diploma as qualifying for advanced academic research. He received his PhD in 2004 under Prof. Ernst Meier, focusing on scanning probe microscopy and the influence of tip geometry on measurement precision.

In parallel to his scientific work, Fornaro completed a Master of Advanced Studies in Business administration and Marketing in 2005, reflecting an early interest in institutional development and interdisciplinary leadership.

He held successive postdoctoral and teaching positions at the Imaging and Media Lab and the national Réseau Cinéma Suisse, where he coordinated the technology curriculum in areas such as visual media, lighting, and perception. He completed his habilitation in Digital Humanities in 2018 with a cumulative thesis on image documentation in art and cultural heritage. In recognition of his contributions to research and education, he was appointed Titular Professor in 2023.

His career exemplifies the pathway from technical and vocational expertise into academic leadership, and his work is noted for building bridges between the sciences, the humanities, and public memory institutions. His research centers on digital imaging, long-term preservation strategies, and infrastructure for computational methods in the humanities.

Research Projects

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

Ongoing Projects

• ERC: Into 3D – Access, Engage, Interact with 3D Collections (2024–2028): A European Research Council project focused on interaction with and access to cultural heritage in 3D formats.

• SNF Bridge: Deep Digital Materiality (2024–2028): A project extending surface imaging technologies for use in conservation, restoration, and curatorial research.

Completed Projects

• DaSCH – Data and Service Center for the Humanities (2021–2024): Co-PI of a Swiss National Science Foundation infrastructure initiative for long-term research data preservation in the humanities.

• Photographic Collections and Deep Learning (Sinergia) (2021–2024): A project using Artificial Intelligence to semantically enrich photographic archives.

• Digitale Materialität (2013–2018): Research on the measurement and digital reproduction of light-surface interactions to improve the rendering of artworks.

• CAPCam – Digitale Fachkameraentwicklung (2013–2015): Development of control software and user interface for a high-precision digital technical camera.

• Monolith 2 – Langzeitarchivierung auf Fotomaterial (2010–2012): A project exploring digital long-term preservation using microfilm.

• AFRESA – Digitalisierung von Filmbeständen (2008–2011): Workflow optimization for film digitization in archives and museums.

• Monolith – Mikrofilmarchivierung (2007–2009): The first phase of research on long-term digital data preservation using analog carriers.

• PEVIAR – Digital Originals on Microfilm (2006–2008): Development of a self-explaining archival method for digital preservation on photographic media.

Early Research and Engineering Projects

• 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

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

• Patent: He is co-inventor of the international patent application PCT/EP2016/067045 – Computer System and Method for Improved Gloss Representation in Digital Imaging. The application has been filed in the European Union, United States, Japan, and China.

• 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. The company is formally associated with the university under standard licensing agreements.

• 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, the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, Jenoptik (Leica), Swiss Data Safe AG, the Swiss National Museum, and Ringier Bildarchiv.

Selected Publications

• Fornaro, P., Chiquet, V. (2020). Artificial Intelligence for Content and Context Metadata Retrieval in Images and Image Groups. IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings, Washington D.C.

• 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.

• 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.

• Fornaro, P., Bianco, A., Rosenthaler, L. (2016). Digital Materiality with Enhanced Reflection Transformation Imaging. IS&T Archiving Conference Proceedings, Washington D.C.

• Müller, F., Fornaro, P., Rosenthaler, L., Gschwind, R. (2010). PEVIAR: Digital Originals. ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 3(1).

• Fornaro, P., Gschwind, R. (2008). PEVIAR: Ein System zur migrationslosen digitalen Archivierung. Photokina Köln, DGPh.

• Fornaro, P. (2020). Digitale Fotografie im Museum. In: Jahresbericht des Historischen Museums Basel.

• Fornaro, P., Bianco, A., Schellewald, B., Schmitt, L. (2016). Neue computerbasierte Verfahren zur Wiedergabe von Kunstwerken. Rundbrief Fotografie, 23(1).