GNORM: Challenges and Potential of a 3D Visualisation of the Corpus Iuris Canonici

The Corpus Iuris Canonici is one of the most influential legal compilations in Western history, yet its stratified nature and extensive system of glosses pose significant challenges for modern scholars. Traditional approaches to its study have relied on printed editions and static digital reproductions, which limit interactivity and analytical capabilities. This paper presents GNORM, a novel web-based tool designed to enhance the exploration of the Corpus Iuris Canonici through 3D visualization and advanced text-processing algorithms. Unlike conventional database-driven solutions, GNORM employs a structured text-based data architecture, preserving the integrity of historical sources while enabling dynamic navigation of legal texts and glosses. By integrating automated recognition of intertextual references, full-text search functionalities, and thematic filtering based on typological, chronological, and geographical criteria, GNORM is an innovative digital tool in this field of research. This paper details the theoretical and technological foundations of GNORM, demonstrating its potential to transform the digital study of canon law. The results highlight the advantages of interactive legal visualization and hypertextual navigation, offering a scalable and adaptable framework for future research. By bridging traditional legal scholarship with computational methodologies, GNORM represents a significant advancement in digital legal history, providing scholars with an unprecedented means of engaging with one of the most complex and historically significant legal texts of the Western tradition.