The safeguard of built heritage in archeological sites, an interdisciplinary approach based on light-weight UAV photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning survey: the case study of Monte Lucio

This paper introduces a well-defined working pipeline oriented to a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the structural behaviors of the Archeological Heritage through complementary and integrated studies. The geometrical and deterioration data pertaining to a medieval tower in “Monte Lucio” (Reggio Emilia, Italy) were joined in an accurate 3D model to be used for structural analysis, starting from the complementary use of a terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) with UAV air photogrammetry. Meanwhile, an interdisciplinary collaboration between different professional figures such as archeologists and chemists was established to get information relating to masonry stratigraphy and mortar typology. This allowed the material characterization fine-setting for parameters then embedded into structural models, usually the most complex operation in historical buildings. This led to classify the different brick typologies and the elevations’ characteristics in a 10x10 cm pixel matrix, identifying each slice uniquely by using different colors. The matrix was then imported in MATLAB, assigning coordinates and mechanical characteristics to each pixel, according to material typology. Finally, the model was imported in Abaqus Unified Fea to perform “Pushover analysis” and to calculate the distribution of horizontal forces to evaluate possible prevention measures to be taken. In conclusion, through the adoption of different combined digital survey technologies and multidisciplinary data sharing, the proposed workflow proved to be efficient in the case study presented.