Three‐dimensional reconstruction of a masonry building through electrical and seismic tomography validated by biological analyses

Abstract

In this paper, we present an integrated approach, for assessing the condition of an ancient Roman building, affected by rising damp and cracking phenomena. The combination of high-resolution geophysical methods, such as seismic and electrical tomography, with biological information, allowed a more detailed evaluation of the state of conservation of the masonry building. A preliminary three-dimensional electrical survey was conducted to detect the existing building foundations and to determine the variation of the resistivity in the ground. Then, electrical and seismic tomography investigations were carried out on an inner wall of opus caementicium, subjected to rising damp effects and cracks. This approach was adopted to obtain a high-resolution image of the wall, which allowed to identify the inner mortar and the outer brick component from resistivity and velocity contrasts. Furthermore, the geophysical results revealed evidence of wall fractures (indicated by low velocity and high resistivity values) and a significant volume where rising of damp was taking place (resulting in a low resistivity zone). Biological analyses validated the geophysical model: in fact, the biological proliferation occurred up to a height of 0.75 m, where the interface between high and low resistivity values was recovered. This approach can be employed to reconstruct a three-dimensional model of masonry structures in order to plan recovery actions.

High Frequency Data Acquisition System for Modelling the Impact of Visitors on the Thermo-Hygrometric Conditions of Archaeological Sites: A Casa di Diana (Ostia Antica, Italy) Case Study

“…When a visit takes place, the hourly variation increases of 0.106 °C and 0.097 °C for observations belonging to cluster 3 and 4, respectively. This significant effect of visits on the thermal upset is in line with the findings of the study of CO 2 [ 26 , 27 ].…”

“…A monitoring campaign of indoor CO 2 concentration was conducted in Casa di Diana with the aim of evaluate its effects on biological colonization [ 26 , 27 ], determining that the growth of vegetation is concentrated in the lowest area of the podiae (seats for the Romans that assisted the sacrificial ritual of killing the bull), which also corresponds to the path followed by visitors.…”

Electrical resistivity tomography array comparisons to detect cleared-wall foundations in brownfield sites

“…Moreover, ERT has been used for detecting natural (Deceuster et al, 2006;Zhu et al, 2011) and man-made (Chambers et al 2007;Cardarelli et al 2010; Orfanos and Apostolopoulos 2011) underground cavities as possible hazards that might be effect civil construction integrity. Cardarelli et al (2018) undertook 3D ERT surveys, as well as seismic tomographic surveys, to assess the conditions of an ancient Roman historical building. However, there has been little research to assess preferable 2D profile array configurations for detection and characterisation of cleared-wall foundations in brownfield sites.…”

An approach for the reconstruction of a traditional masonry-wooden building located in an archeological area. Part II: Building reconstruction

“…There are various approaches in reconstruction. In one of these approaches, reconstruction process is performed through electrical and seismic tomography [18]. It is also used in various approaches including model-based method and BIM in reconstruction [19][20][21].…”