The coexistence of modern transport systems with the presence of cultural heritage sites in urban environments is a very crucial issue in sustainable city planning. In particular, in the historic centre of cities with plenty of scattered archaeological sites, such as Rome, urban traffic vibrations must be monitored to assure the conservation of ancient monuments. In fact, cultural heritage sites may suffer from traffic vibration impact in terms of aesthetical damages even in cases in which the structural health is not compromised. In such context, the present paper focuses on the impact of traffic vibrations induced on two monuments studied within the CO.B.RA. project (aiming at developing advanced technologies and methods for the conservation of cultural heritage). The so-called Temple of Minerva Medica and the Catacomb of Priscilla are exposed to different types of traffic vibration sources and are characterized by different structural conditions. Besides the ambient vibration monitoring, several non-destructive tests (NDTs) and noncontact investigations were conducted at the two sites in order to study the state of damage and the structural conditions of the two monuments. In particular, the ambient vibration monitoring gave remarkably different outcomes in these two cases and provided objective data for interesting observations on the sustainability of tramways, railways and road traffic near such diverse archaeological assets.
In the present paper an integrated approach of a wide range of non-destructive tests (NDTs) was applied to study an archeological ruined building located in Rome, the so-called Temple of Minerva Medica. Applied NDTs focused on the monument properties and environmental conditions affecting its structural behavior (geometry, thermal and mechanical properties, microclimatic monitoring, ambient vibration response). Two surveys were performed in August and December 2016 combining 3D laser scanning, thermal infrared, air temperature and relative humidity acquisitions. In addition, high resolution digital images were acquired and processed by stereo-photogrammetry Structure from Motion (SfM) methodology, carried out for detailed reconstruction of the crack pattern of the monument. In order to obtain information on the integrity and consistency of the masonry, a sonic testing of each pillar was also performed. The integration of the above NDTs provided quite complete and comprehensive understanding of the structural behavior and state of the building, reducing the amount of invasive measurements further needed.
The impact of long-term traffic vibration on ancient structures located in the city centre of big cities is an important issue, as it represents the main factor of fatigue, possibly causing structural damage in historic constructions. This article illustrates the preliminary results of a study on the so-called Temple of Minerva Medica in Rome, Italy, conducted within the CO.B.RA. project, which focuses on the development of advanced technologies and methods for the conservation of cultural heritage assets. The studied monument, which is part of the architectural heritage of ancient Rome, is located very close to several railway tracks just out of the Termini train station, on the northeast side, and to urban tramways, on the west side. To obtain indications on the dynamic behaviour of the structure and to map the base excitation induced by passing trains and trams, ambient vibration data were acquired by digital recorders with triaxial velocimeters positioned at several measurement points on the ground, around and inside the structure, and at different heights on the northwest façade. For evaluating the structural vulnerability, three-dimensional (3D) architectural surveys and non-destructive investigations on the material properties of the monument were conducted in order to implement a finite element model of the building to be used for structural analyses and dynamic simulations. In particular, to the purpose of obtaining a detailed 3D model, laser scanner and stereo-photogrammetric acquisitions were carried out. Photographic acquisitions were also used to identify the crack pattern and to document the current state of damage. Vibration and 3D reconstruction data were acquired both in summer and in winter, along with thermographic images, for assessing the seasonal effects on the structural behaviour. All collected data were stored into an ad hoc friendly data repository accessible through the internet by the accredited project end-users.
This paper shows an application of the photogrammetric 3D reconstruction by SfM (Structure from Motion) technique and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors to evaluate the long-term crack propagation and the damage evolution on the Aurelian Walls in Rome. Aurelian Walls were built between 270 and 275 A.C. by the Emperor Aureliano to defend Rome, the capital of the Empire, from barbaric attacks. Originally, they extended for about 19 km, nowadays remains are 12.5 km long and among the longest and best-preserved ancient wall murals in the world. The two adopted techniques offer complementary advantages. By the SfM reconstruction it is possible to acquire the geometry of the studied masonry structure and to detect most relevant cracks where FBG sensors can be installed for permanent monitoring. Moreover, SfM allows to acquire the crack pattern over extended surfaces and to compare its evolution with scheduled repeated measurements. FBG sensors allow continuous monitoring at selected critical locations and offer reference data for correlation of scheduled photogrammetry measurements. 3D Photogrammetric reconstruction by SfM took advantage of hardware and software capabilities of the HPC (High Performance Computing) resources available in ENEA, which are provided by the CRESCO (Research Computational Centre on Complex Systems) infrastructure. FBG sensors were installed in thermal compensation configuration and with both high stability for long-term static measurements and dynamic response capabilities. Experimental data so far acquired are presented with evidence of the preliminary results of the measurement campaign, which is planned to be continued in the long term.
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