Urban Geology for the Enhancement of the Hypogean Geosites: the Perugia Underground (Central Italy)

Abstract

Urban geology analyses natural risks and promotes geoheritage in urban areas. In the cities, characterized by a high cultural value, the hypogean artificial cavities, often present in the downtown, offer a unique opportunity to show the geological substratum. Moreover, these places could be a point of interest in urban trekking with the abiotic component of the landscape as a topic (geotourism). To investigate these areas, rigorous bibliographic research and a geomorphological assessment are the first steps, but, besides, non-invasive methods are new techniques increasingly in demand. In this paper, we present a multidisciplinary study on the Etruscan Well (third century B.C.), one of the most important Etruscan artefacts in Perugia (Umbria region, Central Italy). The characteristics of the sedimentary deposits outcropping along the perimeter walls have been collected. Moreover, to show the underground geoheritage, we provide a 3D model of the well and the surrounding area integrating a georeferenced laser scanner survey with ground-penetrating radar prospecting. We aim to obtain a tridimensional mapping of accessible internal rooms to depict the geological characteristics of the Etruscan Well, also revealing a surrounding network of buried galleries. The results are not only a meaningful advancement in the archaeological, geological and historical knowledge of the downtown of Perugia but are a hint for the geoheritage promotion and dissemination, providing images and 3D reconstruction of underground areas.

Ghost Mines for Geoheritage Enhancement in the Umbria Region (Central Italy)

“…We suggest, as a possible solution, a mobile application for electronic devices [45,51] in order to create an advanced mode of the fruition of naturalistic and artistic sites in rural areas through fusion between itineraries of interest and access to augmented reality content (augmented reality-AR) for the development of immersive and customized touristic experiences. One of the most important goals is integrating society into the processes of scientific research.…”

Necropolis of Palazzone in Perugia: Geomatic data integration for 3D modeling and geomorphology of underground sites

“…The results are presented in scientific papers, among which we mention the following: Melelli et al. (2016, 2021), Bizzarri, Melelli, and Cencetti (2018).…”

“…The clouds of points correctly georeferenced in planimetry and elevation, with their inside walls textured point by point by means of the high-resolution digital images acquired by the scanner, allowed our geological colleagues to perform in-depth studies on the stratigraphy of the site that allowed us to increase and update our knowledge on the geomorphology of the Perugia hill. The results are presented in scientific papers, among which we mention the following: Melelli et al (2016Melelli et al ( , 2021, Bizzarri, Melelli, and Cencetti (2018).…”

Towards Enhanced Understanding and Experience of Landforms, Geohazards, and Geoheritage through Virtual Reality Technologies in Education: Lessons from the GeoVT Project

“…Various contexts and process domains have been explored, such as landslide terrains [12], coastal cliffs [13], volcanoes [14,15], and even extraterrestrial settings such as Mars [16]. VR is also increasingly used to explore geoheritage sites [17], allowing for virtual contact with both localities too far or too complicated to reach [18][19][20], or unsuitable to be developed for large groups of visitors for conservation purposes [21]. In the last few years, a new unforeseen application field for VR in teaching and outreach emerged related to the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and related closure of field sites and transformation of teaching and outdoor education into online experiences [22].…”