Monitoring and modelling slope instability in cultural heritage sites

Abstract

The recent development of new remote sensing instrumentations, such as ground-based radar and terrestrial laser scanner, has encouraged the implementation of these noninvasive devices during diagnostic campaigns for the monitoring and geotechnical characterization of the instability processes in historic sites. This work presents the results of the research activities performed on the archaeological area of Roman Forum, Rome (Italy) and on the Citadel fortifications of Gozo (Malta). Ground-based radar demonstrated potentials for monitoring and surveillance at 'single monument scale', allowing real time warning in case of anomalies and deviations from the expected structural behaviour of the ancient masonry, thanks to the integration with the 3D model obtained from terrestrial laser scanning. On the other side, laser scanning provided fundamental base to calculate the probability of occurrence of instability mechanisms interesting, in the case study of Gozo, the Citadel rock mass, also providing a useful indication for the installation of on site monitoring network. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.