The southern part of the region (the Salento peninsula) had hosted in the last twenty years at least fifteen events of sinkholes, the greatest part of which occurred inside "soft" carbonate rocks (calcarenites). The man - made and/or natural cavities are sometime assets of historical and archaeological significance. This paper provide a methodological approach related to the evaluation of sinkhole hazard in "soft" carbonate rocks combing seismic and mine engineering complementary methods. A case study is exposed which concern natural cavity named "Grotta delle Veneri". In this case the approach was: i) 2D and 3D seismic method in order to study the physical-mechanical characteristic of rock mass that constitute the roof of the cave; ii) the scaled span empirical analysis in order to evaluate the instability of the crown pillar's caves.

3D high resolution Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey was performed in the Crypt of the Duomo of Lecce (South Italy), built in 1114. The GPR data revealed us a stratified subsoil in which there is a distribution, with the depth, of several "remains" referable to different epochs. Here we present and discuss the experimental evidences, comparing them with the historical-archaeological documentation. We think that they constitute a valid contribution to the knowledge of the ancient stratigraphy, as well as of the Roman history of Lecce, especially because of many suppositions have not yet found a confirmation. © 2009 IEEE.

Extensive urbanization may cover important archaeological structures that are still buried in urban areas, andGround Penetrating Radar is one of the most reliable geophysical technique for resolving buried archaeologicalstructures in urban territories. In this paper a case study that involves a geophysical surveyemploying the surfacethree-dimensional (3D) GPR techniques, to characterize the investigated areas from the archaeological point ofview, is illustrated. GPR measurements, integrated with archaeological and topographical information aimed atthe production of a digital archaeological map integrated in a webGIS platform, were carried out in some areasat the historical centre of Lecce (Apulia, Italy). The investigated areas are related to somesectors of theMessapiannecropolises (dated mainly in 4th-3rd century BCE), characterized by different types of graves (pits dug in thebedrock or built with slabs, sarcophagi and hypogea) that lying also inside the settlement surrounded by citywalls. The survey was carried out using the IDS Hi Mod georadar system, incorporating a dual band 200-600 MHz centre frequency antennae. The GPR time slices were constructed from closely spaced parallel profiles.The time slices, computed from averaging radar reflections over vertical time windows several nanosecondsthick, are used to map subsoil features associatedwith its structure. The time sliceswere georeferenced in the archaeologicalmap of Lecce in order to acquire new data on the distribution and the ancient topography of the funeraryareas inside the settlements. Moreover, to facilitate the interpretation of the results, a three-dimensionalimage was constructed using closely spaced parallel profiles, which are interpolated.

The archaeological site of Sagalassos is avery important settlement located in a magnificentmountain landscape, 7 km north from a little villagenamed A?lasun (province of Burdur, SW Turkey).Since 1990 the University of Leuven (Belgium) carryout an interdisciplinary archaeological researchprogramme that study the uninterrupted occupationof more than 1000 years in all its aspects from dailylife to architecture, from trade and its mechanisms toenvironmental conditions of the past. The ancientroman city is a site covered under erosion layers andpreserved many secrets that need to be revealed. Ageophysical campaign was planned along the southfacing terraces of the mountain slopes, in order to fhighlighting the structure of the city still covered. Siteconditions (high slope, high grass, several obstacles)and the need to investigate high depths led to thechoice of the most suitable geophysical methods.Particularly a 3D distribution in the subsoil ofresistivity tensor probability was esteemed.

In this work, the dielectric permittivity of pietra gentile and pietra leccese (two kinds of stone typically found in Cultural Heritage structures of Southern Italy), for different levels of moisture content, was characterized. Measurements were carried out by comparatively using three different probes as sensor (i.e., a patch resonator; an open-ended coaxial probe; and a standard WR90 waveguide) for increasing values of water content. Measurements were performed using a vector network analyzer and a time-domain reflectometer. The obtained laboratory results can be used to derive moisture content/relative dielectric permittivity calibration curves that could be employed, in practice, for noninvasive on-the-field moisture monitoring of pietra gentile- and pietra leccese-made Cultural Heritage structures.

In spite of preliminary prospections, it oftenoccurs that new underground archaeological sites canbe unexpectedly discovered while, for example, constructingbuildings or subways, or during archaeologicalexcavations, etc. In such cases, it is common practiceto re-bury the discovered site, while waiting for theAgencies and/or Bodies in charge to decide about thecontinuation. In such a scenario, it is important to beable to monitor the site, so as to prevent possible landslipand consequent catastrophic events. To this purpose,the present work proposes the use of a wire-like,passive sensing element that can be buried in the soilcovering the archeological site and that can be used inconjunction with time domain reflectometry (TDR), tomonitor the soil and to provide a prompt alert of incipientsigns of landslip.

Occupying the natural underground spaces, or excavating the rock mass to create new voids, has been since very long times the most typical habit for ancient populations in large sectors of the Mediterranean Basin. The underground environment offers shelter (from adverse climate, and enemies), possibility to hide (but also to control the surrounding territory), provides natural resources such as water, ores and minerals, protects livestock, and allows to keep working even when outside very hot climatic conditions are present. For all the above reasons, in Basilicata and Apulia regions (S Italy), where most of the land is of karst origin, living underground is testified in about all the past civilizations. The huge natural and cultural heritage related to the underground has never been fully exploited so far. In this area, one of the most well-known sites is the town of Matera (recently designated as the 2019 European Capital of Culture). The urban history and development of Matera is strongly linked to the use of the underground space, which is still inhabited and represents the main attraction for tourists. Its urban setting is well integrated with the natural landscape, characterized by deep karst valleys, on which flanks houses, storage rooms, worship sites, and work places have been realized. In the recent past, it was also considered as a negative example, quite far from the new development and technology of the modern society. Nevertheless, most of the solutions used by ancient civilizations were highly technological: for instance, the way to collect and transport water, to keep some hydric reserve also during the dry season, were extremely ingenious. Starting from the idea that several lessons could be learnt from the past civilizations, five institutes of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) have recently started a joint project, aimed at exploiting the cultural heritage represented by the underground environment in S Italy. The CNR institutes involved in the project cover different fields related to the study of the underground: from direct explorations and engineering-geological analyses addressed to evaluation of the stability of underground voids (IRPI), to geophysical surveys for identification of voids, and characterization of the subsurface (IMAA, IBAM), to urban history and evolution (ISSM), to archaeological representations through modern technologies (IBAM), and to protocols for the integrated valorisation and management of the cultural heritage (ICVBC). In this contribution, the first activities jointly carried out by the CNR Team are presented and discussed, as an example of multi-disciplinary effort aimed at reaching a high level of knowledge, and at providing fundamental information and data to stakeholders, technicians, and local administrations, in order to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage, and enhance and use it in the most proper way.

Tricarico Cathedral, dating back to 11th century, nowadays presents widespread damage. The elements which are most damaged and at risk of collapse are the piers of the nave. They consist of a square core surrounded by pilaster strips. Integrated diagnostic investigations have been carried out in order to characterize the structural instability phenomenon which causes the damage, thus providing information useful for restoration interventions. In particular, endoscopic investigations permitted to ascertain the lack of connection between the pilaster strips and the core. The stone has good properties, as verified through ultrasonic tests. Sonic tests and GPR investigations highlighted that the cores of a number of piers present velocities and reflections, respectively, which can be referred to fractures or voids. Moreover, GPR investigations highlighted reflections in the pilaster strips which are typical of a severe and widespread decay, in agreement with visual inspection. Porosity measures were carried out on core samples apparently undamaged, and on an individual sample macroscopically damaged. Measures of ambient vibrations provided the fundamental frequency of structures by the HVSR technique (Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio). The measures were carried out on the soil, the facade, the left aisle and the bell tower. The HVSR is interpreted comparing measures carried out in adjacent structures also with the aim to detect coupling phenomena (double resonance) between the eigenfrequencies of the structural macroelements and the soil.

We present the first application in the field of a reconfigurable stepped frequency system. The system has been designed in collaboration between the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage IBAM-CNR Lecce, the Department of. Electronics and Telecommuncations of the University of Florence and the Company Ingegneria dei Sistemi IDS S. p. A., Pisa. We show some results achieved in the chapel of the ex hospital of the Holy Spirit in Lecce and we compare them with the results obtained by using a commercial pulsed GPR system.

In the territory of Calvello (Potenza), Basilicata, a new archaeological research projectcovered the northern slopes of Mount Volturino (Lucanian Apennines), aims to understandthe dynamics of exploitation of a mountainous area between antiquity and Middle Age,marked by the foundation of the monastery of St. Peter in Cellaria. Most areas are datablebetween 4th and 3rd centuries. B.C. and are characterized by a network of rural sites, relatedto agricultural and pastoral activity. The project focuses the close relationship between thedistribution of rural units, the wellsprings concentration and the sheep tracks used untilnow. The project for the Middle Ages takes into account the area occupied by the monasteryof St. Peter, tied to the Pulsanese Congregation. Survey campaigns and walls analysis anddocumentation were followed by an intense campaign of archeogeofi sics prospecting, aimedto discover buried elements.

Nello studio di problematiche ambientali, legate ad esempio a situazioni di siti inquinati da idrocarburi, spesso si richiede il monitoraggio della distribuzione spaziale dell'inquinante e l'individuazione di vie preferenziali di deflusso dello stesso nel sottosuolo. Le proprietà fisiche dei materiali costituenti il sottosuolo sono significativamente influenzate dalla presenza dell'inquinante nei pori e nelle fessure e dalle proprietà chimiche dell'inquinante stesso.Di fatto le correlazioni esistenti tra parametri idrogeologici, quali la porosità e le proprietà fisiche di un mezzo poroso costituiscono uno strumento efficace per studiare, attraverso l'utilizzo di indagini geofisiche non invasive, la distribuzione spaziale dell'inquinante nei suoli. L'obiettivo di questo lavoro è stato quello di determinare la presenza di inquinanti, la distribuzione spaziale, la quantità e quale potrebbe essere la sua migrazione in funzione del tempo. In questo lavoro viene presa in considerazione la possibilità offerta dalla metodologia geofisica denominata ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography) nell'individuare e mappare la presenza di idrocarburi nel sottosuolo. A questo scopo viene presentata un applicazione di tale metodologia nei pressi di un distributore (dismesso) di carburante.

The geomorphological analysis of cliff coast stretching to the north of Otranto (southernApulia, Italy) was integrated by penetrometer tests and geophysical survey aiming toreconstruct its late Holocene evolution. In particular, the study focuses on the inactive cliffof Torre dell'Orso inlet which hosts a 150 m - wide beach and a high dune belt. The surveydetected the cliff/wave-cut platform junction at about 3.8 m below m.s.l. The platform iscovered by a dune/beach sedimentary cover about 7 m thick.The collated data along with the available local sea level curves allow to reconstructOtranto's cliff evolution as the result of late Holocene relative sea-level change due toeustasy and land motions. Cliff development was promoted by a sea still-stand level atabout 3.5 m below present mean sea level occurred between 3400 and 2400 years BP. Arapid sea level rise followed so that several tracts of cliffs were partly drowned becomingplunging cliffs. Cliff recession followed fast sea level rise only along preferentialgroundwater flow lines where hyperkarst process, due to fresh/salt water mixing,produced deep notches in the calcarenite bedrock inducing rock falls and cliff recession.This process is responsible for the indentation of present shoreline. Finally, during thelast four centuries a wide beach and a high dune belt formed at Torre dell'Orso inlet as aresult of the increased carry load of Ofanto River, so that the plunging cliff has beenseparated by shoreline becoming an inactive cliff.Finally, comparing the reconstructed local sea level history during the late Holocene withthe available sea level curves produced by glacio-hydro-isostastic models, a yo-yoingland motion with a period of about 4500 years and amplitude of about 2 m can be inferredfor the eastern coast of Salento peninsula.

Assessment of the risk arising from near-surface natural hazard is a crucial step in safeguarding the security of the roads in karst areas. It helps authorities and other related parties to apply suitable procedures for ground treatment, mitigate potential natural hazards and minimize human and economic losses. Karstic terrains in the Salento Peninsula (Apulia region-South Italy) is a major challenge to engineering constructions and roads due to extensive occurrence of cavities and/or sinkholes that cause ground subsidence and both roads and building collapse. Cavities are air/sediment-filled underground voids, commonly developed in calcarenite sedimentary rocks by the infiltration of rainwater into the ground, opening up, over a long period of time, holes and tunnels. Mitigation of natural hazards can best be achieved through careful geoscientific studies. Traditionally, engineers use destructive probing techniques for the detection of cavities across regular grids or random distances. Such probing is insufficient on its own to provide confidence that cavities will not be encountered. Frequency of probing and depth of investigation may become more expensive. Besides, probing is intrusive, non-continuous, slow, expensive and cannot provide a complete lateral picture of the subsurface geology. Near-surface cavities usually can be easily detected by surface geophysical methods. Traditional and recently developed measuring techniques in seismic, geoelectrics and georadar are suitable for economical investigation of hazardous, potentially collapsing cavities. The presented research focused on an integrated geophysical survey that was carried out in a near-coast road located at Porto Cesareo, a small village a few kilometers south west of Lecce (south Italy). The roads in this area are intensively affected by dangerous surface cracks that cause structural instability. The survey aimed to image the shallow subsurface structures, including karstic features, and evaluate their extent, as they may cause rock instability and lead to cracking of the road. Seismic refraction tomography and ground-penetrating radar surveys were carried out along several parallel traverses extending about 100 m on the cracked road. The acquired data were processed and interpreted integrally to elucidate the shallow structural setting of the site. Integrated interpretation led to the delineation of hazard zones rich with karstic features in the area. Most of these karstic features are associated with vertical and subvertical linear features and cavities. These features are the main reason of the rock instability that resulted in potentially dangerous cracking of road. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Within the project restoration regarding the static improvement of the northern façade of the S.S. Annunziata Cathedral in Castro (Lecce), integrated geological and geophysical investigations were undertaken. The aims of the survey were to define the model of the local geological stratigraphy and to evaluate the geotechnical characteristics of the ground hosting the foundation of Cathedral. Geophysical survey was performed used Ground Penetrating Radar integrated with seismic refraction tomography. Moreover both a direct investigation using continuous core boring and a hand excavation were performed in correspondence of the building foundations. The obtained results have allowed determining the typology of foundation and its depth with respect the living surface. In addition, the model of the local geo-stratigraphy was reconstructed, as well as, the geo-mechanical parameters of the litho-types conditioning the foundations structures were determined. Doubts remain on the direct correlation with to crack pattern observed on the Northern façade of the Cathedral.

Most monuments and historical buildings in the Maltese Islands are made of the local Globigerina Limestone (GL). This type of stone, however, is very delicate and prone to degradation caused by the environmental conditions of the islands. Hence, for the preservation of the Cultural Heritage monuments, it is necessary to promptly assess the health status of these structures and, in particular, their water content (which represents one of the major causes of degradation).

Leakage localization is crucial in the water distribution sector, where the percentage of water lost due to leaks often exceeds 30-40 %. In this regard, the authors have recently developed a time-domain reflectometry (TDR)-based system which, being based on an electromagnetic technique, overcomes the well-known downsides (such as sensitivity to environmental noise, to pipe material and geometry, etc) of traditional, electro-acoustic leak-localization techniques.Starting from the positive results obtained so far, in this work, the authors investigate the possibility of implementing an integrated TDR/GPR approach: the TDR would allow the preliminary leak localization, while the GPR technique would be used to have a countercheck for possible false positives. Also, GPR would allow to assess the entity of the leak (thus scheduling a priority order for repair) and to obtain a three-dimensional view of the subsurface soil around the pipes, so as to assess their health status. In this work, the combined TDR/GPR approach is tested on a pipe section in presence of two leaks.In addition to this, in this paper, also a different configuration of the TDR sensing element (SE) is experimented. As described in the following, this new SE configuration is expected to expedite considerably the implementation and the use of the TDR-based leak detection system.

In this paper, GPR data gathered by the non-destructiveinvestigation campaign, performed by means ofgeophysical surveys carried out on the vault and the innerpillar of the Crypt of San Sebastiano are shown. Thestudy is part of a wide preliminary diagnostic campaignaimed at the restoration of the monument, which includeda thermographic relief on the painted walls and on thevault, a monitoring of climatic parameters such astemperature and relative humidity of the air and of thewall surfaces. In addition, in order to identify thematerials constituting the wall paintings and theiralteration products, a complex microdestructivediagnostic plane were also performed on micro samplestaken from . The gathered GPR data allowed us toidentify the anomalies of the calcarenitic mass in order tohighlight structural problems that could affect thestability of the monument. To this regard, a differentbehavior, in terms of homogeneity, alteration andmicrofracturing of rocky mass has been highlighted forthe voult and the pillar of the crypt.

With the dual purpose of extending knowledge about the archaeological site of San Rossore and of assisting archaeologists in the recovery process of the ships, geophysical surveys integrated with remote sensing analyses were performed. The surveys were conducted at selected locations, placed on the plan of excavation (approximately 5 m above the ancient surface) and near the archaeological excavation area. Passive (Self Potentials) and active (Induced Polarization) electrical methods were used. The choice of geophysical methods was due to the peculiarity of the geological characteristics of the site. In fact, the sediments embodying the archaeological remains are mainly silts and silty sands, which are moderately conductive. Furthermore, a shallow groundwater hosted in the alluvial deposits (at approximately 2 m below the surface plane) is present in the site.Induced Polarization results inside the excavation area allowed identifying some anomalies related to the ship boundaries, as well as other anomalies probably attributable to archaeological features. Additionally, the Self Potentials measurements carried out in the area near the archaeological excavation evidenced the presence of other archaeological features such as two ships, a pier and other structures. Furthermore, the multitemporal remote sensing data allow the identification of many traces related to filling of channels and ditches. Finally, the integration of the data contributed to a better interpretation of the archaeological site.

Within the project for the restoration of thenorthern section of the sixteenth-century city walls ofLecce, a team of researchers of CNR-IBAM carriedout in 2014 and 2015 geophysical surveys aimed at thestudy and the reconstruction of the moat outside thefortifications. The use of GPR method allowed todetect anomalies related to the main ditch outside thecity walls and to characterize the rocky bank in whichit was excavated; at the time of the surveys, this ditchwas still buried and the results of the geophysicalmeasurements directed the works for its excavation.As well as investigations have allowed to identify alsoother possible ditches or quarries and more ancientstructures, which subsequent archaeologicalexcavations have dated at the Medieval and Romanperiods. Moreover, geophysical surveys highlightedthe presence of modern walls, corresponding with thefoundations of the stadium built in the 1920s close tothe city walls.

The article deals with the analysis of worldwide research patterns concerning ground penetrating radar (GPR) during 1995-2014. To do this, the Thomson Reuters' Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) and the Social Sciences Citation Index accessed via the Web of Science Core Collection were the two bibliographic databases taken as a reference. We pay attention to the document typology and language, the publication trend and citations, the subject categories and journals, the collaborations between authors, the productivity of the authors, the most cited articles, the countries and the institutions involved, and other hot issues. Concerning the main research subfields involving GPR use, there were five, physical-mathematical, sedimentological-stratigraphical, civil engineering/engineering geology/cultural heritage, hydrological (HD), and glaciological (GL), subfields.

In this paper, we present the results of a diagnostics survey, based on the exploitation ofground penetrating radar (GPR) and sonic prospecting, to characterize the deterioration statusof the pillars of the cathedral of Tricarico, in the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). Theprospecting falls within the more general framework of investigating the structural conditionsof this monument, which is affected by heavy instability problems. This study case points outthe great effectiveness of the two employed diagnostic methods, when used in an integratedway, for detecting cracks and inhomogeneities in the inner structure of masonry buildingelements. With regard to GPR prospecting, a comparison is made between the results obtainedby a standard processing and those obtained by means of an inverse scattering algorithm. Forone of the investigated pillars, the results obtained from non-invasive tests are compared withthose of direct inspection. This is performed by coring the pillar and examining both the coreand the hole (the latter by means of an endoscope). The seismic investigation allowed us toprove the mediocre or bad state of conservation of the pillars.

In this paper, we show the results of three case histories where GPR prospecting has beeninterpreted also with the aid of a specific archive research on documents of the XVI and XVIIcentury. The case histories are related to three churches of the renaissance and baroqueperiod in Lecce, Lecce, Southern Italy. The aim is to deliver the usefulness of GPRprospecting in these kind of monuments and to show how the likelihood of the interpretationcan be increased when historical information is available.

The Aragonese Castle is located in the southwesternmost part of the inland corresponding to the acropoli of Taranto during the Magna Grecia period. It is at the top of a calcarenitic body ascribed to the Last Interglacial time (MIS 5). Its building was completed in 1492 but there aren't indications about an official beginning; some architectonic particulars, including the structure of the church inside, seem indicate that the building started during the X/XII century. Calcarenitc ashlars present in the wall have size characteristic of the Magna Grecia/roman time; therefore, it is possible that parts of present fortification were build up the Magna Grecia/roman one or, at least, reworking their parts. The present structure of the castle is result of different phases, not yet well documented, of improving and reutilization occurred during their five century of live.The channel that separate the past acropolis from the centre of Taranto was cut at the end of XIX century, in occasion of the realisation in this city of the biggest base of Italian fleet; however, old documents indicate that in this area a small valley could limited the acropolis from the outside. Goals of present work are: I - to individuate the original topography of the natural environment; II - to individuate past structures at present covered by new ones or by sediments. The preliminary results are encouraging and pointed out the presence of different structures that could be of archaeological interest.

Non-destructive evaluation of reinforced concrete structures is an increasingly important field in the construction and civil engineering community. A large number of pathologies affecting both the concrete and the reinforced bar inside the concrete are related to the presence of water and its spatial development. In this context, the quantification of both water content and bar diameter is an important part of the diagnosis of concrete.

In Apulia Region there is a dense historical-architectural and archaeological heritage built with soft calcarenitic stones. These materials present significant problems of conservation related to their low durability and therefore know the intrinsic characteristics is crucial to evaluate the performance properties and their susceptibility to degradation. To evaluate the physical-mechanical characteristics of the stone materials is very useful to use non-destructive and non-invasive technologies such as ultrasonic, applicable both in situ and in the laboratory.The factors influencing the propagation of elastic waves in the rocks are the structure, density, size and shape of the granules, porosity, anisotropy, the water content, stress and temperature. In this paper the effects of saturation on the elastic wave velocity and the relationship between density and elastic wave velocity were studied on some Apulia's porous calcarenites such as Leccese stone, the Ostuni stone and the calcareous "Tufo delle Murge". The ultrasonic P and S wave velocity measurements were performed on cubic samples, under natural condictions (e.g. without applying external pressure on the samples), using the transmission method. Variations of P and S wave velocity were related to density and percentages of water content. Furthermore in order to study the frequency influence on seismic velocities.

Il Progetto Innovazione Sociale "IN-CUL.TU.RE. INnovazione nella CULtura nel TUrismo e nel REstauro", ha avuto lo scopo di salvaguardare e conservare l'inestimabile patrimonio industriale legato alla cultura rurale salentina. In particolare si vogliono evidenziare in questo contributo i risultati delle indagini micro-geofisiche realizzate all'interno della struttura denominata Molino Coratelli. La campagna di indagini è stata finalizzata sia all'individuazione delle armature ed eventuali forme di dissesto (vuoti e/o fratture) eventualmente presenti all'interno della soletta in cemento armato che al loro stato di conservazione

The town of Lecce located in the southern part of the Apulia region of Italy, contains the remains of an ancientsettlement in the city centre. One of the most important buildings in the town is the Duomo and its crypt. The cryptis found beneath the Duomo and was used as a burial place from the first century AD until the nineteenth century.The area around the crypt is highly urbanized today, but was the locus of social and political life over the centuriesfor people of different cultures who inhabited the area, starting from the eighth century BC. Therefore this area containsstratigraphically complex layers of buildings and other remains, which can help us understand the usage of this area ofthe town over many centuries. A ground-penetrating radar survey was performed at the crypt, the data of which werevisualized in three-dimensions using a standard amplitude slice technique as well the construction of isosurfaceimages of amplitudes. These images reveal the position of architectural features whose shape, size and burial depthsuggest they are Roman and earlier in age. The features mapped are superimposed tombs, which indicates that thisarea was used for the same purpose over many centuries and demonstrates a long continuity of similar burialpractices at this sacred place.

This study concerns the main results of theresearch activity aimed at a new integrated knowledgeof Casalrotto, a Medieval cave village (12th-13thcentury) near Mottola (TA). The research was basedon archaeological and geophysical surveys performedin 2015 by researchers of the Laboratory ofGeophysics applied to the Archaeological andMonumental Heritage and the Laboratory of AncientTopography, Archaeology and Remote Sensing ofCNR-IBAM in Lecce. In particular, archaeologicalinvestigations have allowed the upgrading the existingplan of the village through DGPS topographicalsurveys, while geophysical measurements, usingground-penetrating radar (GPR) have allowed abetter delimitation of the necropolis and the detectionof buried structures, both in masonry and carved inthe bedrock.

The paper deals with the results of an archaeo-geophysical approach adopted for the study and the reconstruction of the architectural plan of the medieval monastery of San Pietro a Cellaria in Calvello (Basilicata, Southern Italy). The monastery is a remarkable witness to Benedectine architecture of the 12-13th century in Basilicata, built by monks of the Congregation of S. Maria di Pulsano, who were active mainly in southern Italy. The historical data and the diachronic architectural study, based on the analysis of building techniques, provide evidence for a long and intense history, during which the monastery underwent several architectural changes, including the demolition of buildings and the superposition of other constructional elements. The only preserved medieval remains are a church with a nave; the adjacent structures are more recent. This preliminary data prompted a research project to shed new light on the as yet unknown history of the medieval monastery. Specifically, a remote sensing approach around the monastery including aerial survey by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and geomagnetic survey in gradiometric configuration (MAG), was adopted in order to verify the possible existence of buried masonry structures and other possible features of archaeological interest, including channels and aqueducts. The GPR time slices were constructed from closely spaced parallel profiles. The time slices, computed by averaging radar reflections over vertical time windows several nanoseconds thick, are used to map subsoil features associated with the structures, probably of anthropogenic origin. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, a threedimensional image was constructed using closely spaced parallel profiles, which are linearly interpolated. The MAG survey was carried in gradiometer configuration, in order to study magnetic properties of the shallow subsoil. Ground-penetrating radar gives details about archaeological structures in a limited area where survey was possible, while gradiometer survey confirms GPR results and improves archaeological knowledge in the areas where GPR survey was impossible. This multi-sensor remote sensing program revealed a wide variety of archaeological features of interest, which may be targeted accurately with excavations in the future.

In this work, we focus the attention on the settlement of Badia, in the Apulia region, where archaeological remains, dating back to Late Antiquity and Early Madieval Age, have been studied. Integrated investigations (archaeological, geophysical and archaeometric) have been conducted to understand the historical dynamics and reconstruction the rural landscape.

According to the Protection Civil Department database, Apulia is the fourth region in Italy affected by sinkholes, due to collapse of natural or man-made cavities. The southern part of the region (the Salento peninsula) had hosted in the last twenty years at least fifteen events of sinkholes, the greatest part of which occurred inside "soft"carbonate rocks (calcarenites). The most catastrophic sinkhole, due to the presence of underground quarries, occurred at Gallipoli on 29 March 2007, when a collapse created a 12 x 18 m sinkhole which involved two 3 floors buildings. and 140 people were evacuated. In these cases, the usual approach of investigation of the area consist of geological survey supported by geophysical prospecting aimed to evaluate the real size of sinkhole crater and to predict its development over the time. In spite of the importance on the civil protection, the prediction of the sinkhole events is currently an hard issue, especially if they are related to caves of cultural interest as the case at hand, where are summarised questions of safety of people and cultural heritage.The "Poesia Piccola" cave, located at the Salento area of the Puglia region (southern Italy), has such features and it is the case study of this paper.The cave is an outstanding example of hypogean archaeological site morphologically in evolution and potentially dangerous for humans. It belongs to a karst system formed by dome-shaped caves, minor cavities and galleries. The system, named "Grotte della Poesia", is joined to the ground through vertical and horizontal entrances,respectively placed on a coastal plateau and along the contiguous cliff. This paper provides a new methodological approach on the evaluation of sinkhole hazard in such "soft" carbonate rocks combing geological, geophysical and mine engineering complementary methods, such as: geological analysis of outcrops and boreholes, aerophotogrammetric interpretation of aerial photos, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground penetrating radar (GPR), seismic tomography, stability models to evaluation of ceiling caves.The research allows to define the geometrical caves shape (span, length and thickness of the crown pillars) which related to the geological features and physics properties of the rocks, determine the instability of the ceiling caves and, as a consequence, the sinkhole hazard.

Non-destructive testing by mean of ground penetrating radar were performed on the wooden elements constituting the roofing of the Cathedral of Foggia. These measurements were related to the restoration work of the roof. Measurements campaign aimed at the assessment of the conservation status of the wooden elements of the all major and secondary elements of the truss of the nave, as well as on those main of the dome and the apse. Results show various abnormalities which correspond to nodes and/or slots. The presence of the nodes allow a rapid and accurate analysis of the electromagnetic waves velocity and the volumetric water content.

Within the project for the restoration of the northern section of the sixteenth-century city wall of Lecce, CNR-IBAM carried out geophysical surveys aimed at the study and the reconstruction of the fortifications system. In particular, the investigations focused on a wide band of land outside the two bastions at the northern far end of the fortifications. The integrated use of GPR and ERT systems has allowed to detect anomalies related to the main ditch outside the city wall and to characterize the rocky bench in which it was excavated; at the time of the surveys, this ditch was still buried, and the results of the measurements have guided its excavations. Moreover, the investigations have allowed to identify also other possible ditches or quarries and more ancient structures, which subsequent archaeological excavations have dated at the Roman period. Moreover, geophysical surveys highlighted the presence of modern walls, corresponding with the foundations of the stadium constructed in the first half of the 1900s close to the fortifications. So, geophysical investigations were very important since they allowed not only to direct the archaeological excavations, but also because they allowed to formulate some hypotheses on the ancient topography of the not excavated area

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows in Copertino was built in 1088 by the will of the Norman Count Goffredo of Conversano and was originally entitled to the Virgin. In 1255 Manfredi, Prince of Taranto and Count of Copertino elevated it to basilica entitling it to the Virgin of the Snows. It is the mother church of Copertino, already directed basilica and in 2011 elevated to the rank of minor basilica. GPR survey was undertaken inside the churches at Copertino village, located a few kilometres southwest of Lecce (Italy). The purpose of the survey was to obtain information about the existence of ancient structures beneath the churches. No document or writing exists to confirm the presence of structures under the church. However, there are several oral testimonies handed down over the centuries that suggest the presence of these ancient structures.Survey was carried out using a IDS Hi Mod georadar system, incorporating the dual band 200-600 MHz centre frequency antennae. The GPR time slices were constructed from closely spaced parallel profiles. The time slices, computed from averaging radar reflections over vertical time windows several nanoseconds thick, are used to map subsoil features associated with the structures, probably of anthropogenic origin. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, a three-dimensional image was constructed using closely spaced parallel profiles, which are linearly interpolated.

The Aragonese Castle is located in the southwesternmost part of the inland corresponding to the acropoli of Taranto during the Magna Grecia period. It is at the top of a calcarenitic body ascribed to the Last Interglacial time (MIS 5). Its building was completed in 1492 but there aren't indications about an official beginning; some architectonic particulars, including the structure of the church inside, seem indicate that the building started during the X/XII century. Calcarenitc ashlars present in the wall have size characteristic of the Magna Grecia/roman time; therefore, it is possible that parts of present fortification were build up the Magna Grecia/roman one or, at least, reworking their parts. The present structure of the castle is result of different phases, not yet well documented, of improving and reutilization occurred during their five century of live.The channel that separate the past acropolis from the centre of Taranto was cut at the end of XIX century, in occasion of the realisation in this city of the biggest base of Italian fleet; however, old documents indicate that in this area a small valley could limited the acropolis from the outside. Goals of present work are: I - to individuate the original topography of the natural environment; II - to individuate past structures at present covered by new ones or by sediments. The preliminary results are encouraging and pointed out the presence of different structures that could be of archaeological interest.

Paper focused on the first results of a joint geo-archaeological research project of urban archeology in the ancient Roman city of Durrës. Starting from the reading of the historical evidence and interpretation of archival records (i.e. aerial photos related to the twenties, thirties and forties years of last century, before the urban transformations between the two World Wars and later, and satellite images of the sixties and recent years) the research proposes to develop targeted investigations with the integrated use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method and image processing techniques of contemporary photographs in order to locate a late Roman villa. All the information provided by aerial and GPR analysis as well as literature references constituted the basis for attempting a virtual reconstruction of the lost Roman's villa in order to give the visual idea of how it probably was. Accordingly to London and Seville Charter principles, different levels of reliability in data interpretation have been identified and characterized aiming at making transparent the methodological choices and the accuracy of reconstruction undertaken.

The topographic and geo-morphological characteristics of the Salento peninsula(Puglia, south-eastern Italy) mean that movements of mass are extremely rare. Thesephenomena particularly affect certain coastal zones characterized by cliffs in rapid retreatand some unusual points in the hinterland in which collapses, generally linked to thedevelopment of karstic cavities, are common. These phenomena demonstrate the brittlenessof some areas of the Salento, and they constitute a restraint on the use of the territoryitself. The town of Mesagne is one of the sites at greatest geological risk in the northSalento peninsula. In the last few decades, the historical centre of Mesagne has beenaffected by a series of subsidence events, which have, in some cases, resulted in the partialcollapse of buildings and road surfaces. The last event was in the January 2014. It causedsubsidence phenomenon in a wide area, and many families have been forced from theirhomes. These events have had both social repercussions, causing alarm and emergencysituations, and economic repercussions in terms of the expense of restoration. In order todetermine the causes of the ground subsidence events, integrated geophysical surveys wereundertaken in the historical centre of Mesagne. In addition, the analysis of several wellsallowed the 3D model reconstruction related both to the geology and to the groundwaterdepth in the surveyed areas. With the purpose of estimating the dimensions of the phenomenonand its possible relationship with both specific environmental conditions (forinstance groundwater depth variation) and anthropic conditions (for instance the losses inwater supply and sanitation), some geophysical measurements were repeated in the time.The study led to the production of a detailed description of the subsidence causes thatallows a quick action to restore security conditions in the area.

Hierapolis of Phrygia (Turkey) was one of the most important Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine city in Asia Minor. The Italian Archaeological Mission in more than 50 years of activity has brought to light and restored many monuments of the ancient city, helping to understand the urban layout in the various periods of its history. In 2011 ground-penetrating radar (GPR) prospection, with the aim of supporting the archaeological excavations and surveys, was performed in some important sample areas by a team of the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage of the National Research Council of Italy. The analysis of the GPR measurements revealed many anomalies that could be ascribed to archaeological structures, as well as other anomalies of presumable natural origin. The data collected were georeferenced in the digital archaeological map of Hierapolis using a RTK-GPS system. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The roman amphitheatre of Catania stands in a very complex and interesting area where settlement dynamics and transformations have profoundly marked its urban landscape. Over the centuries, the urban and architectural histories together with the formation of the archaeological deposits have led to the complete obliteration of the monument and restricted knowledge of its plan and architectural development. Therefore, it constitutes an interesting context in which to experiment methods and techniques for architectural representation and the three-dimensional reconstruction of the monument.

In this contribution we show the results obtained in relationship with GPR and ultrasonic investigations carried out in the Crypt of the Holy Spirit in Monopoli. The exploitation of integrated techniques has allowed to have a meaningful insight of the presence of interesting buried anomalies under the floor and has provided important information about the state of preservation of the columns.

Ongoing and extensive urbanization may threaten important archaeological structures that are still buried in the urban areas. Ground Penetrating Radar method is the most promising alternative for resolving buried archaeological structures in urban territories. In this paper a case study that involves a geophysical survey employing the surface three-dimensional (3D) GPR techniques, in order to archaeologically characterize the investigated areas. The last ones are located in the south-western sector of the historical center of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), where the modern city overlaps the main public monuments of the Roman municipium of Lupiae, only partially preserved or excavated: the amphitheatre, the theatre, the baths and maybe also the Forum. GPR measurements, integrated with the results of archaeological excavations and the topographical surveys of the preserved remains, were carried out in several areas regarding sectors of the ancient roman city. The GPR data were collected along a dense network of parallel profiles. The GPR sections were processed applying specific filters to the data in order to enhance their information content. The GPR images significantly contributed in reconstructing the complex subsurface properties in these modern urban areas. Strong GPR reflections anomalies were correlated with possible ancient structures and they were integrated in the digital archaeological map of the city.

In this contribution, some possible effects of large band electromagnetic interferences onGround Penetrating Radar (GPR) data are shown, and a possible way to counteract them is shown,too. The mitigation of the interferences is implemented thanks to a prototypal reconfigurable steppedfrequency GPR system, that allows to program the integration time of the harmonic tones vs. thefrequency. In particular, an algorithm for the measurement of the effects of the interferences inthe field (linked to the signal to interference ratio) is proposed and tested vs. experimental data.The paper will show some advantages and some drawbacks of the proposed procedure.

Illegal excavations represent one of the main risks which affect the archaeological heritage all over the world. They cause a massive loss of artefacts but also, and above all, a loss of the cultural context, which makes the subsequent interpretation of archaeological remains very difficult. Remote sensing offers a suitable chance to quantify and analyze this phenomenon, especially in those countries, from Southern America to Middle East, where the surveillance on site is not much effective and time consuming or non practicable due to military or political restrictions. In this paper we focus on the use of Very High Resolution satel-lite imagery to quantitatively assess looting in Ventarron (Lam-bayeque, Peru) that is one of most important archaeological sites in Southern America. Multitemporal satellite images acquired for the study area have been processed by using both autocorrelation statis-tics and unsupervised classification to highlight and extract looting patterns. The mapping of areas affected by looting offered the op-portunity to investigate such areas not previously systematically documented. To this purpose georadar prospections were conducted in some looted test sites.

In this paper, the use of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing as a reliable technique to determine the compressive strength of a calcarenitic stone typical of Salento (South of Italy), known as Lecce Stone (LS) has been investigated. The scope of the experimental research is to establish correlations between the results obtained by non-destructive and destructive tests, in order to reduce the use of destructive methods within the diagnostic procedures for the mechanical analysis and qualification of ancient masonries. Furthermore, the presence of water as a variable affecting the test was investigated. The results of the tests show that the UPV values are well correlated with the compressive strengths and this method showed to be efficient in predicting the strength of LS.

The coastal area Marina di Capilungo located ~50 km south-west of Lecce (Italy) is one of the sites at greatestgeological risk in the Salento peninsula. In the past few decades, Marina di Capilungo has been affected by a series of subsidence events, which have led in some cases to the partial collapse of buildings and road surfaces. These events had both social repercussions, causing alarm and emergency situations, and economic ones in terms of the funds for restoration.With the aim of mapping the subsurface karstic features, and so to assess the dimensions of the phenomena in order to prevent and/or limit the ground subsidence events, integrated geophysical surveys were undertaken in an area of ~70 000m2 at Marina di Capilungo. Large volume voids such as karstic cavities are excellent targets for microgravity surveys. The absent mass of the void creates a quantifiable disturbance in the earth's gravitational field, with the magnitude of the disturbance directly proportional to the volume of the void. Smaller shallow voids can be detected using ground-penetrating radar (GPR).Microgravimetric and GPR geophysical methods were therefore used. An accurate interpretation was obtained using small station spacing and accurate geophysical data processing. The interpretation was facilitated by combining the modelling of the data with the geological and topographic information for explored caves. The GPR method can complement the microgravimetric technique in determining cavity depths and in verifying the presence of off-line features and numerous areas of small cavities, which may be difficult to be resolved with only microgravimetric data. However, the microgravimetric can complement GPR in delineating with accuracy the shallow cavities in a wide area where GPR measurements are difficult. Furthermore, microgravity surveys in an urban environment require effective and accurate consideration of the effects givenby infrastructures, such as buildings, as well as those given by topography, near a gravity station. The acquired negative anomaly in the residual Bouguer anomalies field suggested the presence of possible void features. GPR and modelling data were used to estimate the depth and shape of the anomalous source.

Among geophysical techniques applied toarchaeological sites , the multi-frequency EMI methodis capable of identifying shallow subsurface relics bysimultaneously measuring the apparent electricalconductivity (ECa) and apparent magneticsusceptibility (MSa).In this study, multi-frequencyEMI technologies were performed in two heritagesites with different geological conditions. In the site ofHan Hangu Pass, high ECa values were measured dueto the cinnamon soil. Variations of ECa from thesurface to shallow subsurface with different depthsindicate a correlation with archaeological excavations.Whereas, electromagnetic anomalies related to anancient road and five kiln caves were identified. In theXishan Yang, sandy loams result into lower ECavalues. An ancient tomb, indicating extremely lowECa and high MSa, was discovered. Itselectromagnetic properties is attributed to the cavityand ferroferric oxides. Afterwards, the depths ofinvestigation (DOI) in conjunction with theperformance of signal frequencies were assessed andanalyzed.

This study presents the potential of multi-frequency electromagnetic induction (EMI) in archaeology. EMI is currently less employed for archaeological prospection respect to other geophysical techniques. It is capable of identifying shallow subsurface relics by simultaneously measuring the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and apparent magnetic susceptibility (MSa). Moreover, frequency sounding is able to quantify the depths and vertical shapes of buried structures. In this study, EMI surveys with five frequencies were performed in two heritage sites with different geological conditions: Han Hangu Pass characterized cinnamon soil, and Xishan Yang by sandy loams. In the first site high ECa values were observed with variations in depth correlated to archaeological remains. Moreover, electromagnetic anomalies related to an ancient road and five kiln caves were identified. In the second site an ancient tomb, indicating extremely low ECa and high MSa, was discovered. Its electromagnetic properties is attributed to the cavity and ferroferric oxides

Casalabate is a coastal small town frequently affected by sinkhole events. The first noticed event occurred on 1993 and caused several destructions of buildings. In the same year, a sinking of a small portion of emerged beach happened (Delle Rose and Federico, 2002). Four years later a collapse affected the submerged portion of beach and allowed the formations of a submarine spring, since then the bathing was forbidden for some weeks. Two episodes of sinkhole on the emerged beach occurred during 2000 and 2004, along a strike no longer than 30 meters. Each of they caused on surface short-lived elliptical depression quickly filled by sand. All the aforementioned episodes occurred inside a narrow area (about 250 m long and 100 m wide) close to the coast and oriented according to a north-north-east - south-south-west tectonic structures system (Delle Rose and Leucci, 2010). Further episodes occurred on March 2010, November 2010 and March 2011. The last noticed sinkhole happened on 7 January 2012. Usually the sinkholes occurred during or after rains or sea storms and each episode lasts some minutes at least. Due to geological and geotechnical uncertainties, Casalabate became an intriguing case study of sinkhole hazard in urban areas and three geological-geophysical models were recently proposed to explain the ground-instability and to asses the related hazard (Delle Rose and Leucci, 2010; Calò et al., 2011; Margiotta et al., 2012). 3D geological model and new geophysical data here shown can contribute to an efficient predictive model taking into account the hydrogeology context. Moreover, some epistemological considerations had performed to improve the interdisciplinary exchange between geologists and geophysicists.

This Special Issue hosts a selection of papers presented at the Third International Conferenceon Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (Lecce, Italy, 23-25 October2017), related to the new perspectives on geophysics for archaeology. In recent years,archaeological prospecting has seen major advances through a variety of remote sensingand computing technologies. Geophysical instrumentation continues to improve in sensitivityand acquisition speed, and new multi-sensor arrays, e.g., drawn by carts over land,now permit vast areas to be rapidly covered. On the other hand, the availability of highresolutionremote sensing techniques provides multiscale and multi-temporal approaches tothe study of ancient settlements and landscapes, and proves fundamental in the reconstructionof their development over centuries. Nowadays, research in landscape archaeologyneeds the integration of different high-resolution remote sensing techniques such as satellite(optical and radar data), aerial (photographic, infrared and lidar data from aircraft andunmanned aerial vehicles), but also land acquisitions (integration of different geophysicaltechniques, field walking, and differential GPS topographical surveys). All these investigationsare based on a geoarchaeological approach, with several aims ranging from historicalreconstruction to preventive archaeology and from the preservation of archaeological andmonumental heritage to noninvasive diagnosis through micro-geophysical techniques.

The crypt of St. Nicholas in Bari, Southern Italy, is a building of cultural worldwide importance. Inside the crypt a mosaic develops on the apsidal floor and along a parietal seat placed along the apsidal masonry, in the form of cladding. A surviving portion of the mosaic pavement is also preserved in the right lateral chapel. Integrated non-destructive survey and laboratory analyses were undertaken for the diagnostic study of the mosaic. GPR prospection was successfully applied to the study of its conservation state, that is strictly related to the condition of the subsoil, in particular to the presence and distribution of water. The presence of water, whose rise interests also some portions of the masonry and water content distribution were identified by the results of electromagnetic wave velocity analysis in GPR data. The decay visible on the tesserae evidenced widespread spalling and crumbling as typical forms that selectively affect the different materials of the tesserae of the mosaic. Samples taken from them were investigated by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses, in order to identify the constituent materials and the products of their decay. The application of the integrated methodologies showed its effectiveness in order to acquire a quite complete knowledge for diagnostic purpose. Decay appeared to be due to the combined presence of water and soluble salts and it has different effects depending on the materials characteristics.

In this work, the dielectric characterizationof pietra gentile (a kind of stone typically found in CulturalHeritage structures in Southern Italy) was carriedout. Measurements were performed for increasing levelof water content of the pietra; thus identifying, empirically,the relation between moisture content and dielectricpermittivity. The obtained laboratory results canbe used to derive moisture content/dielectric permittivitycalibration curves that could be used, in practice, fornoninvasive on-the-field moisture monitoring of pietragentile-made Cultural Heritage structures. For example,it would be possible to use the obtained calibrationcurves with non-invasive measurement systems, such astime domain reflectometry in conjunction with antennas,coaxial probes, or waveguides apertures.

The researches carried out by the IBAM-CNR in the area of the Necropolis of Porta Nocera at Pompeii have led to create an innovative system for the documentation, representation and preservation of archaeological contexts. The scientific rigour and precision of the traditional instrumental mapping together with the use of new technologies and geophysical methods have produced high-definition 3D models of the funerary monuments and necropolis as tools to store and manage scientific information.

In this paper the relevance of preventive archaeology is outlined with specific reference to the case history of Ruvo di Puglia, Italy. Geophysical prospection has identified anomalies of possible relevant archaeological interest.

Nell'ambito del progetto di restauro relativo al miglioramento statico della facciata nord della Cattedrale della SS Annunziata di Castro (Lecce), sono state condotte indagini geologiche e geofisiche integrate. Le finalità dell'indagine sono state quelle di definire il modello geologico della locale successione stratigrafica e di valutare le caratteristiche geotecniche del terreno che ospita le strutture di fondazione della Cattedrale.L'indagine geofisica è stata condotta usando la metodologia elettromagnetica impulsiva Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) integrata con il metodo sismico tomografico per rifrazione. Inoltre sia un'indagine diretta, utilizzando un sondaggio meccanico a carotaggio continuo, che uno scavo a piccola profondità sono stati eseguiti in corrispondenza delle fondazioni dell'edificio. I risultati ottenuti hanno permesso la determinazione della tipologia di fondazione e la sua profondità d'imposta rispetto alla superficie attuale di calpestio. E' stato quindi realizzato il modello geo-stratigrafico locale e determinati i parametri geomeccanici che condizionano le strutture di fondazione. Alcuni dubbi rimangono sulla correlazione diretta del modello con le lesioni osservate sulla facciata nord del Duomo.

According to the Protection Civil Department database, Apulia is the fourth region in Italy affected bysinkholes, due to collapse of natural or mane-made cavities. The southern part of the region (the Salento peninsula)had hosted in the last twenty years at least fifteen events of sinkholes, the greatest part of which occurred inside"soft" carbonate rocks (calcarenites).The man - made and/or natural cavities are sometime assets of historical and archaeological significance. Sometimemonuments of historical and archaeological significance are located in areas with high risk of sinkholes. In spite of theimportance on the civil protection, the prediction of the sinkhole events is currently an hard issue. This paper providea new methodological approach on the evaluation of sinkhole hazard in such "soft" carbonate rocks combinggeophysical and mine engineering complementary methods.A case study is exposed which concern natural cavity named "Grotta delle Veneri". In this case the approach was: i)3D Ground-penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) in order to evidence the shape anddimension of karstic cave; ii) seismic refraction tomography in order to study the physical-mechanical characteristic ofrock mass that constitute the roof of the cave; iii) the scaled span empirical analysis to instability evaluation of thecrown pillar's caves.The research allows to define the geometrical cave shape (span, length and thickness of the cave's roof) whichrelated to the geological features and physics properties of the rocks, determine the instability of the roof's cave and,as a consequence, the sinkhole hazard.

Vengono riportati i risultati di un indagine geofisica effettuata in un'area interessata dalla presenza di una ex discarica comunale (non si indica l'area in quanto attualmente sotto inchiesta). La presenza nell'area dell'ex discarica comunale crea uno scenario dal potenziale impatto sull'ambiente assai rilevante. L'eventuale mancanza di barriere laterali e di fondo impermeabilizzate, permette al percolato di discarica di introdursi nel sottosuolo, con elevata probabilità di inquinamento della falda principale della zona. Gli effetti di tale fenomeno sono osservabili per decenni, quindi risulta evidente quale possa essere il rischio di carattere igienico-sanitario a cui sono state (ma lo sono tutt'ora) sottoposte le popolazioni residenti nei pressi della discarica. A tal proposito, basti pensare che per conformazione la zona è idonea per lo sviluppo dell'attività agricola, con conseguente utilizzo di acqua potenzialmente contaminata da sostanze potenzialmente tossiche.Lo scenario che si può osservare lungo le strade limitrofe alla zona non è dei più incoraggianti: interi cumuli di rifiuti abbandonati fanno da cornice al paesaggio su descritto; si va dai copertoni alle batterie per auto, dai beni durevoli di varia tipologia agli scarti di lavorazione. Purtroppo si parla di aree periferiche del territorio, facilmente accessibili e scarsamente illuminate, quindi sede ideale di discariche abusive incontrollate.

The paper is focused on low enthalpy geothermal exploration performed in south Italy and provides an integrated presentation of geological, hydrogeological, and geophysical surveys carried out in the area of municipality of Lecce. Geological and hydrogeological models were performed using the stratigraphical data from 51 wells. A ground-water flow (direction and velocity) model was obtained. Using the same wells data, the ground-water annual temperature was modeled. Furthermore, the ground surface temperature records from ten meteorological stations were studied. This allowed us to obtain a model related to the variations of the temperature at different depths in the subsoil. Integrated geophysical surveys were carried out in order to explore the low-enthalpy geothermal fluids and to evaluate the results of the model. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) methods were used.,The results obtained upon integrating the geophysical data with the models show a low-enthalpy geothermal resource constituted by a shallow ground-water system.

The researches carried out by the IBAM-CNR in the area of Roman Bath at the archaeological site of Sagalassos (A?lasun -Turkey) have led to create an innovative system for the documentation, representation and preservation of archaeological contexts. The scientific rigour and precision of the traditional instrumental mapping together with the use of new technologies and geophysical methods have produced high- definition 3D models of the monument as tools to store and manage scientific information. For geophysical survey two physical parameters were measured, the electrical resistivity and self potential in order to obtain their distribution in a three-dimensional volume. The aim of geophysical survey was to obtain information about the roman bath structure stability.

Most monuments and historical buildingsin the Maltese Islands are made of the local GlobigerinaLimestone (GL). This type of stone, however, isvery delicate and prone to degradation caused by theenvironmental conditions of the islands. Hence, forthe preservation of the Cultural Heritage monuments,it is necessary to promptly assess the health status ofthese structures and, in particular, their water content(which represents one of the major causes of degradation).Starting from these considerations, in this work, a timedomain reflectometry (TDR)-based method for estimatingwater content of GL is presented. More specifically,the proposed method relies on estimating thewater content value of the GL structure from TDRbaseddielectric permittivity measurements. To verifythe suitability of this system, experimental tests werecarried out on a GL sample. The results anticipate thestrong potential of the proposed method for practicalapplications in the Cultural Heritage diagnostics.

The archaeological site of Sagalassos is a very important settlement located in a magnificent mountainlandscape, 7 km north from a village named Aglasun (province of Burdur, south-west Turkey). Since 1990, theUniversity of Leuven (Belgium) has carried out an interdisciplinary archaeological research program that studies>1000 years of uninterrupted human occupation in Sagalassos, concerning all historical aspects of daily life fromarchitecture, to trade and its mechanisms and environmental conditions. The ancient Roman city is covered by layers oferoded soil that has preserved many secrets waiting to be revealed. A geophysical campaign was planned along the southfacing terraces of the mountain slopes to highlight the structure of the city that remains covered in soil. Site conditions(high slope, high grass, several obstacles) and the need to investigate to depths greater than 20m influenced the choiceof geophysical methods; we chose to use both passive and active electrical resistivity tomography. Three different areas,labelled Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3, were investigated, with results revealing information about the location, depth, sizeand extent of buried archaeological features. Of particular interest is the presence of: (i) a deep depression in Area 1, thoughtto be a clay quarry; (ii) a number of tombs related to the Byzantine period in Area 2; and (iii) defensive walls in Area 3.

In the last few years the environment has constituted a themes of great interest in Europe and in the world, in the framework of the sustainable development of the territories. The relationship between humankind and environment is also essential in order to understand the history of the ancient civilizations. Nowadays, archaeology makes use of advanced methodologies and technologies aimed to the study, the knowledge and the reconstruction of the historical European and Mediterranean landscapes. In Italy, the great variety of different environmental conditions offers a meaningful opportunity for the study of the rural scenarios between the Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. The settlement framework of the southern part of the Apulia region (Italy) results to be quite rich with regard to the Classical period, whereas it has been enhancing only during the last few years with regard to the Late Antiquity and the Medieval Age. In this region, that has been called Terra d'Otranto starting from the Middle Ages, some archaeological excavations in sample areas have revealed a more detailed and documented picture of the settlements in the territory and of its dynamic transformation. In this context, geophysics, archaeometry and virtual reality can found large application. In particular, with regard to the regional transformation dynamics of the settlements between Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, the archaeological site of Contrada Badia, placed north-west of today Cutrofiano (in the outskirts of Lecce) is of great interest. Here, an archaeological survey on an area of about 50 hectares has recorded the human frequentation of this area from Bronze Age to Middle Ages. More specifically, two interesting sites have been identified, placed on the two sides of a street leading to the modern town: the first one is deemed to be a rural settlement of the Imperial and Late Antiquity Age, whereas the second one seems to be the site of a medieval abbey. In order to characterize the expected buried structures (and partially already identified by means of aerial photography data) in both sites, a ground penetrating radar (GPR) prospecting has been scheduled and partially already done. The data have been gathered with a pulsed Ris-Hi mode system belonging to the Laboratory of Geophysics applied to Cultural Heritage of IBAM-CNR equipped with a double antenna at 200 and 600 MHz, and have been processed by means of the GPR-Slice software. The present work was carried out within the research project PRIN 2010-2011 (prot.2010H8WPKL-001), UR (CNR-IBAM ) "Innovative Methods for the Reconstruction of the Landscape of Terra d'Otranto between Late Antiquity and Middle Ages".

Within the project restoration regarding the static improvement of the northern façade of the S.S. Annunziata Cathedral in Castro (Lecce), integrated geological and geophysical investigations were undertaken. The aims of the survey were to define the model of the local geological stratigraphy and to evaluate the geotechnical characteristics of the ground hosting the foundation of Cathedral.Geophysical survey was performed used Ground Penetrating Radar integrated with seismic refraction tomography. Moreover both a direct investigation using continuous core boring and a hand excavation were performed in correspondence of the building foundations.The obtained results have allowed determining the typology of foundation and its depth with respect the living surface. In addition, the model of the local geo-stratigraphy was reconstructed, as well as, the geo-mechanical parameters of the litho-types conditioning the foundations structures were determined. Doubts remain on the direct correlation with to crack pattern observed on the Northern façade of the Cathedral.

Extensive urbanization cover important archaeological structures that are still buried in the urban areas. Ground Penetrating Radar method is the most promising alternative for resolving buried archaeological structures in urban territories. In this paper a case study that involves a geophysical survey employing the surface three-dimensional (3D) GPR techniques, in order to archaeologically characterize the investigated areas. GPR measurements, integrated with archaeological and topographical research aimed at the production of a digital archaeological map integrated in a webGIS platform, were carried out in some areas in the historical centre of Lecce (Apulia, Italy). The investigate areas are related to some sectors of the Messapian necropolises (dated mainly in 4th-3rd century BC), characterized by different types of graves (pits dug in the bedrock or built with slabs, sarcophagi and hypogea) that lied also inside the settlement surrounded by city walls. Geophysical survey was carried out using the IDS Hi Mod georadar system, incorporating the dual band 200-600 MHz centre frequency antennae. The GPR time slices were constructed from closely spaced parallel profiles. The time slices, computed from averaging radar reflections over vertical time windows several nanoseconds thick, are used to map subsoil features associated with the structures, probably of anthropogenic origin. The time slices were georeferenced in the archaeological map of Lecce in order to acquire new data on the distribution and the ancient topography of the funerary areas inside the settlements. Moreover, to facilitate the interpretation of the results, a three-dimensional image was constructed using closely spaced parallel profiles, which are interpolated.

In Apulia Region there is a dense historical-architectural and archaeological heritage built with soft calcarenitic stones. These materials present significant problems of conservation related to their low durability and therefore know the intrinsic characteristics is crucial to evaluate the performance properties and their susceptibility to degradation. To evaluate the physical-mechanical characteristics of the stone materials is very useful to use non-destructive and non-invasive technologies such as ultrasonic, applicable both in situ and in the laboratory.The factors influencing the propagation of elastic waves in the rocks are the structure, density, size and shape of the granules, porosity, anisotropy, the water content, stress and temperature. In this paper the effects of saturation on the elastic wave velocity and the relationship between density and elastic wave velocity were studied on Leccese stone. The ultrasonic P and S wave velocity measurements were performed on cubic samples, under natural condictions (e.g. without applying external pressure on the samples), using the transmission method. The variations of the P and S wave velocity were related to both the density and to the percentages of water content.

This study concerns the main results of the research activity aimed at a new integrated knowledge of Casalrotto,a Medieval cave village (12th-13th century) near Mottola (Province of Taranto southern Italy). The research wasbased on archaeological and geophysical surveys performed in 2015. In particular, archaeological investigationshave allowed the upgrading of the existing plan of the village through Differential Global Position System(DGPS) topographical surveys, while geophysical measurements, using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) andmagnetometry in gradiometry configuration, have allowed a better delimitation of the necropolis and the detectionof buried structures.

The crypt of St. Nicholas in Bari, Southern Italy, is a building of cultural worldwide importance. Inside the crypt a mosaic develops on the apsidal floor and along a parietal seat placed along the apsidal masonry, in the form of cladding. A surviving portion of the mosaic pavement is also preserved in the right lateral chapel. Integrated non-destructive survey and laboratory analyses were undertaken for the diagnostic study of the mosaic. GPR prospection was successfully applied to the study of its conservation state, that is strictly related to the condition of the subsoil, in particular to the presence and distribution of water. The presence of water, whose rise interests also some portions of the masonry and water content distribution were identified by the results of electromagnetic wave velocity analysis in GPR data.The decay visible on the tesserae evidenced widespread spalling and crumbling as typical forms that selectively affect the different materials of the tesserae of the mosaic. Samples taken from them were investigated by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses, in order to identify the constituent materials and the products of their decay.The application of the integrated methodologies showed its effectiveness in order to acquire a quite complete knowledge for diagnostic purpose. Decay appeared to be due to the combined presence of water and soluble salts and it has different effects depending on the materials characteristics.

This paper focuses on the results of a joint geoarchaeological research project of urban historical remains in the ancient Roman city of Durrës, Albania. The project began with a desk-based analysis of all the historical and archival evidence including aerial photos from the 1920s-40s, a period before major urbanization of the area and prior to the capture of satellite imagery in the 1960s. These aerial photographs were re-processed and then combined with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) imagery and used to locate a Late Roman villa in the city. The integrated results produced a visual idea of what the villa looked like, when analysed in conjunction with the known archaeological and historical literature. During analysis, different levels of data reliability and resolution have been identified, which inform methodological choices when undertaking reconstructions of the villa. These methodological issues have generic resonance in the reconstruction of urban landscapes.

Ongoing and extensive urbanisation may threaten important archaeological structures that are still buried inurban areas. The ground penetrating radar (GPR) method is the most promising alternative for resolving buried archaeologicalstructures in urban territories. This paper presents a case study that involves a geophysical survey employing the surfacethree-dimensional (3D) GPR techniques, in order to archaeologically characterise the investigated areas. The site is locatedin the south-western sector of the historical centre of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), where the modern city overlaps the main publicmonuments of the Roman municipium of Lupiae, only partially preserved or excavated: the amphitheatre, the theatre, thebaths and maybe also the Forum. GPR measurements, integrated with the results of archaeological excavations and thetopographical surveys of the preserved remains, were carried out in several areas regarding sectors of the ancient romancity. The GPR data were collected along a dense network of parallel profiles. The GPR sections were processed applyingspecific filters to the data in order to enhance their information content. The GPR images significantly contributed inreconstructing the complex subsurface properties in these modern urban areas. Strong GPR reflections features werecorrelated with possible ancient structures and they were integrated in the digital archaeological map of the city

In the last two decades the village of Casalabate was affected by a number of sinkhole events, the last episode occurring on 7 January 2012. Due to some geological and geotechnical uncertainties, Casalabate became an intriguing case study of sinkhole hazard in urban areas and three geological-geophysical models were recently proposed by three different studies. In this paper new geophysical data and some epistemological consideration were done. The results are a contribution to an efficient predictive model that could be well define both the geological setting and sinkhole hazard.

This paper presents an integrated analysis using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) studies to map the Triglio underground aqueduct that in Roman times supplied fresh water to the ancient town of Tarentum, modern Taranto, Apulia region, Italy. The study area includes an expansion project of a nearby limestone quarry where mining activity is related to the production of a steel factory (ILVA). The aim was to develop methods for detection and mapping of the geometry of the underground aqueduct. Seven GPR reflection profiles were acquired across and parallel to the hypothesized extent of the aqueduct, while the ERT method was used to understand the stratigraphy of the area and tie reflections to geological units. Well-preserved vertical shafts for ventilation and inspection of the ancient underground hydraulic work were investigated and used as models for GPR exploration. The GPR profiles, interpreted using both the trace amplitude analysis and the forward modelling, showed reflection features from the main horizontal tunnel of the ancient aqueduct. The void space within the aqueduct, usually the ceiling-air interface, was discovered and mapped using reflections profiles both parallel to the linear feature, but also crossing it, and differentiated from similar looking geological features.

How does the tree root system develop in the subsoil? This question is important to the development and urban planning disciplines, especially when the trees occur near building foundations and underground utilities. This interest is based on the potential for buildings to suffer subsidence or structural damage from nearby trees. The inspection of both the extension of the tree roots and the degree of decay in wood are still undertaken using classical single-point and destructive methods. However, as pointed out by several authors, geophysical methods provide an alternative method of studying root architecture in a non-invasive fashion.In this paper, three geophysical methods were applied to produce 3D images of total root volume in the soil in an urban environment. The three geophysical methods used were ground-penetrating radar, electrical-resistivity tomography, and seismic refraction tomography. Each of the geophysical methods alone is able to isolate root system but cannot resolve the ring structures.

In this work, three different techniques, namely time domain reflectometry (TDR), ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were experimentally tested for water leak detection in underground pipes. Each technique was employed in three experimental conditions (one laboratory or two field experiments), thus covering a limited but significant set of possible practical scenarios. Results show that each of these techniques may represent a useful alternative/addition to the others. Starting from considerations on the obtained experimental results, a thorough analysis on the advantages and drawbacks of the possible adoption of these techniques for leak detection in underground pipes is provided. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sinkholes occur in many areas of the world, especially where carbonate rocks crop out. They are formed due to natural processes or caused by man's activities. In both cases, severe consequences have to be registered on the anthropogenic environment and related infrastructures. Knowledge of both the mechanism of the sinkhole formation and the localization of this subtle geohazard is therefore necessary for planners and decision makers to perform the most appropriate and suitable programs of land use and development. The Apulia region of southern Italy is characterized for most of its extension by carbonate rocks, which makes it one of the most remarkable examples of karst in the Mediterranean basin. The sinkhole formation in Apulia urban areas has recently produced severe damages, especially along its coastal planes, where different types of sinkholes occur. The detection of cavities, that could collapse and create a sinkhole, in an urban environment presents numerous difficulties (buried networks, reworked soils, etc). A methodology has been developed to respond to this need based on the integration of four complementary methods: geological analysis of outcrops and existing borehole descriptions, aerophotogrammetric interpretation of aerial photos, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR).The combination of these methods, applied to a test sector in the city of Casalabate, made it possible to locate the principal karstic conduits beneath the study area and identify a zone of high sinkhole geohazard associated with one such feature.

This paper is focused on the presentation and discussion of an object oriented approach, applied to the Hierapolis (Turkey) site, to automatically detect the subtle features linked to buried archaeological remains. The data processing is applied twice: (i) first, globally at the whole image and, (ii) second, at the significant subsets identified by global analysis, in order to refine the previously obtained categorization. Object oriented approaches are usually based on two main steps: i) first the segmentation, ii) then the classification. Herein, we first performed the unsupervised classification step and, then, the segmentation. This choice is given by the specificity of archaeological issue, in particular: (i) the subtle features/targets to be identified are partially or totally unknown and characterized by a very small spectral separability from the background, and therefore (ii) the discrimination between archaeological class and substrates likely suffers significant confusion. To cope with these issues, the first step is based on an unsupervised classification, which provides a first 'rough' categorization of pixels; the second step, based on the segmentation, enables us to extract the geometric shape, and, in turn, to only categorize as archaeological class those pixels belonging to geometrically (rectangular and linear) shaped clusters. Outputs from this classification identify rectangular and linear features of archaeological interest whose size suggested that they may be a farm and some sectors of an aqueduct, respectively. Results from satellite based analysis were successfully evaluated by georadar and geomagnetic prospection along with field survey. From georadar and geomagnetic prospection we were able i) to confirm the presence of buried remains and ii) to detail and characterize these archaeological features at the subsoil level as well as to define the local stratigraphy. From field survey we dated the detected buried remains to a period spanning from Imperial Roman to early Byzantine historical times.

Paper focused on the first results of a joint geo-archaeological research project of urban archeology in the ancient Roman city of Dürres. Starting from the reading of the historical evidence and interpretation of archival records (i.e. aerial photos related to the twenties, thirties and forties years of last century, before the urban transformations between the two World Wars and later, and satellite images of the sixties and recent years) the research proposes to develop targeted investigations with the integrated use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method and image processing techniques of contemporary photographs in order to locate a late Roman villa. All the information provided by aerial and GPR analysis as well as literature references constituted the basis for attempting a virtual reconstruction of the lost Roman's villa in order to give the visual idea of how it probably was. Accordingly to London and Seville Charter principles, different levels of reliability in data interpretation have been identified and characterized aiming at making transparent the methodological choices and the accuracy of reconstruction undertaken. © 2013 IEEE.

Il sistema offre molteplici opportunità di applicazioni in vari settori che spaziano da quello del patrimonio culturale costruito a quello idrogeologico. L’invenzione può essere, infatti, impiegata per il monitoraggio del degrado di strutture murarie e di affreschi, oppure per il monitoraggio di deformazioni strutturali, oltre che per le grandi infrastrutture, per monumenti e siti archeologici a rischio in quanto consente la localizzazione e la caratterizzazione di sollecitazioni e deformazioni esistenti, offrendo così la possibilità di prevenire eventuali crolli. Nel campo dell’idrogeologia, il sistema proposto può essere applicato per il monitoraggio ambientale e dei terreni: ad esempio, fornisce precise misure di contenuto d’acqua nel terreno, ne determina la conducibilità elettrica, rileva la presenza di sostanze inquinanti. Il sistema è inoltre costituito da sensori di tipo non invasivo che consentono di indagare le strutture su differenti livelli di profondità.