Florent Laroche

Florent Laroche is an Assistant Professor at École Centrale de Nantes, affiliated with the LS2N laboratory (UMR CNRS 6004), and serves as Vice-President of Nantes University. His academic career spans over 17 years of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of engineering sciences and humanities, with a specialization in Advanced Industrial Archaeology and Knowledge Life Cycle Management for Heritage (KLM for Heritage).

His research interests focus on digital documentation and interpretation of cultural heritage, particularly through 3D modeling, virtual reality, and knowledge management systems. Laroche has made significant contributions to the field of Digital Humanities, developing methods to transpose historical knowledge into contemporary contexts while preserving industrial and cultural heritage. His work bridges engineering disciplines with humanities through transdisciplinary approaches that consider heritage as a pillar of knowledge for building sustainable futures.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward long-term preservation of 3D data in humanities, virtual reality applications for heritage interpretation, and knowledge management systems for heterogeneous heritage documentation. His research increasingly focuses on standardized approaches for 3D data archiving, FAIR principles implementation, and developing methodologies for heritage significance assessment using digital tools.

Laroche has been actively involved with CIRP (Collège International pour la Recherche en Productique) since 2006, progressing from Research Affiliate to Associate Member in 2017. He has co-organized multiple CIRP conferences and participates in Scientific Committees for Design and Organization.

His research leadership is particularly evident in projects like Nantes1900, which created an interactive museum application for the historical harbor of Nantes, and various reconstructions of significant heritage sites including Nero's rotating dining room in Rome and industrial forges. These projects demonstrate his commitment to developing practical applications that make heritage accessible while advancing methodological approaches in digital heritage.

Laroche's laboratory work centers on the IS3P team within LS2N, where he develops methods for virtual reconstruction, 3D documentation, and knowledge management systems specifically designed for cultural heritage applications. His approach emphasizes the integration of heterogeneous data sources and the development of user-centered interfaces for heritage interpretation.