Seismic refraction tomography surveys as a method for voids detection: an application to the archaeological park of Cava Ispica, Sicily, Italy

Imposa, Sebastiano; Grassi, Sabrina; Raimondo, Saro Di; Patti, Graziano; Lombardo, Giuseppe; Panzera, Francesco

doi:10.1080/15583058.2017.1419311

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Nowadays, geophysical survey techniques are widely used as a strategic tool to characterise the soil and identify and investigate underground evidence, as for instance archaeological remains or even structural elements of the building [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. The widespread use of these methods of investigation is linked to their non-invasive character, their aptitude to be applied to different contexts, especially in urban areas and, in some applications, and the possibility of exploiting the ambient noise originated by natural (e.g., micro tremors, marine waves, wind, meteorological conditions) or anthropic (e.g., human activities, traffic, industrial machinery) sources of vibration [ 11 ]. Ambient vibration testing has also been explored for the characterisation of the structural behaviour of historical buildings (e.g., ancient churches), allowing the estimation of their modal properties, namely resonant frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], for the assessment of the evolution over time of damage and deterioration, including under extreme hazardous events [ 16 , 17 , 18 ] and for the calibration of finite element model to perform static and dynamic non-linear analyses [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended Tromograph Surveys for a Full Experimental Characterisation of the San Giorgio Cathedral in Ragusa (Italy)

Imposa

Grassi

Barontini

et al. 2023

Sensors

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Geophysical surveys are widely used to reconstruct subsoil seismo-stratigraphic structures with a non-invasive approach. In this study the geophysical surveys were carried out with the aim to characterise the San Giorgio Cathedral in Ragusa (Italy) and the area on which it is built from a dynamic point of view. A 3D subsoil model was realised through the integration of two active (i.e., seismic tomography and multichannel analysis of surface waves) and one passive seismic technique (horizontal to vertical spatial ratio). The instrumentation used for the latter method consists of a tromograph (Tromino®), which is also employed for the characterisation of the building, focusing on the façade and the dome, by means of an ambient vibration test, processed through the standard spectral ratio and frequency domain decomposition methods. Integration of the 3D model, showing the distribution of areas with different physicomechanical characteristics, enables identifying anomalies that are likely attributable to the remains of the ancient Byzantine church of San Nicola. Four lower modes mainly involving the two investigated macroelements are identified. The experimental results outline the advantages of the use of the tromograph both for soil and structural characterisation, especially for massive masonry buildings located in areas with high seismic hazard.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended Tromograph Surveys for a Full Experimental Characterisation of the San Giorgio Cathedral in Ragusa (Italy)

Imposa

Grassi

Barontini

et al. 2023

Sensors

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“…The shallow seismic refraction is not only a non-invasive and cost-effective method but has also been used as a powerful geophysical tool in engineering and environmental investigations. The method is now widely used as the main technique for most engineering purposes, including measuring depth to the water table 1,2,[11][12][13][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] , delineating bedrock surface [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] , estimating soil type and geotechnical properties 22,23,32,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] , mapping sink holes and voids [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] , and estimating rock rippability 16,[42][43][44][45][46] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the shallow bedrock using the seismic refraction method – A case study in New Qena City, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Gowad,

El-Haddad,

Aglan

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The seismic refraction technique has demonstrated its efficiency as a cost-effective geophysical approach for bedrock investigation, which is very important for major construction projects. In the southern part of New Qena City, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, construction of many domestic facilities is planned. Therefore, a prior investigation focusing on bedrock is required to validate the site for construction and other projects. In this study, a site investigation of the southern part of New Qena City is conducted using the seismic refraction method to estimate the depth and thickness of the bedrock and to present the subsurface structural features affecting the area. Ten seismic refraction profiles were measured, and the data were used for tomographic inversion. The results revealed a three-layered subsurface, with the bedrock represented by the mudstone unit of the Pliocene Durri Formation. This layer is located at a shallow depth and exhibits relatively low velocities as well as lateral velocity variations. This is attributed to the clay content of the layer, the high degree of fracturing, and the lateral facies variation. Therefore, the layer could undergo geotechnical problems that could affect future construction projects in the area. Four subsurface faults were also detected in the velocity sections.

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“…Geophysical prospecting is considered a very important tool in support the archaeological research given its noninvasiveness, speed of execution, and the continuous technological progress of instrumentation. Different geophysical survey methodologies adopted in archaeology over the past 60 years, such as the electrical resistivity technique [1,2], groundpenetrating radar (GPR) [3][4][5], electromagnetic method [6,7], and magnetism [8], can be used to correctly map the position and geometry of buried remains, enabling accurate archaeological excavations [3,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Usually, the materials of buried archaeological finds generate contrasts with the surrounding soil due to differences in physical and mechanical properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of Geophysical Survey Data for the Identification of New Archaeological Remains in the Subsoil of the Akrai Greek Site (Sicily, Italy)

Grassi

Morreale

Lanteri³

et al. 2023

Heritage

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For more than a decade now, geophysical prospecting has been considered an integral part of archaeological research; the ability to quickly investigate large areas and locate objects buried in the ground without directly interacting with it is a key feature that makes such surveys essential for identifying and locating, with good accuracy, buried archaeological remains. In this study, two extensive magnetic and electromagnetic surveys were carried out in two different areas of the Akrai archaeological site, where given the distribution of archaeological remains already found at the site, it was likely that additional buried remains were present. The surveys were performed using a proton precession magnetometer and a multifrequency electromagnetic device with a frequency range of 2.5–250 kHz. By processing the data, the vertical magnetic gradient and electrical conductivity maps were obtained. Furthermore, 3D models of electrical conductivity distribution were reconstructed. On comparing the results, it was notable that many anomalies characterized by low vertical gradient values were identified within areas characterized by low electrical conductivity values. These anomalies detected by both surveys can be associated with good probability with buried archaeological remains made up of limestones. In fact, they exhibit shapes and sizes comparable to those of the wall remains already found at the site.

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Seismic refraction tomography surveys as a method for voids detection: an application to the archaeological park of Cava Ispica, Sicily, Italy

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

Extended Tromograph Surveys for a Full Experimental Characterisation of the San Giorgio Cathedral in Ragusa (Italy)

Extended Tromograph Surveys for a Full Experimental Characterisation of the San Giorgio Cathedral in Ragusa (Italy)

Investigation of the shallow bedrock using the seismic refraction method – A case study in New Qena City, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Integration of Geophysical Survey Data for the Identification of New Archaeological Remains in the Subsoil of the Akrai Greek Site (Sicily, Italy)

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