GEOPHYSICS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

The lecture provides the students with concepts of pure and applied geophysics that are relevant for the diagnosis and conservation of cultural and artistic heritage, with focus on the recognition of stone materials and on their generation and degradation processes, and on the natural phenomena that affect the preservation and fruition of artistic, architectural and landscape heritage.

Knowledge of the various implications of geophysics and applied geology for the diagnosis and conservation of artistic and cultural heritage, knowledge of the generation and degradation processes of stone materials, development of stone material recognition skills, knowledge of the natural phenomena that are relevant for the preservation of cultural heritage, development of critical evaluation skills in contexts of strong multidisciplinarity.

Basic concepts of chemistry, physics and history.

Refreshment of key general concepts of pure and applied geology; Elements of mineraolgy (physical and chemical properties of minerals); Elements of cristallography; Igneous rocks and cultural heritage; Sedimentary rocks and cultural heritage; Metamorphic rocks and cultural heritage; Mineral and rock degradation/weathering; Natural phenomena and humans: earthquakes, climatic changes, volcanic eruptions, subsidence; Geophysical landscape; Geophysical technologies for cultural heritage: introduction to geophysical prospecting methods, tomography, stratigraphy, geographic information systems.

An excursion to the city of Venice (6 hours) on the topics of the frontal lectures will take place at the end of the course.

The content will be proposed by referring as far as possible to relevant artistic, architectural or historical case studies, both national and international.

Lollino, G., et al., Engineering Geology for Society and Territory: Preservation of Cultural Heritage (Volume 8) - Springer

Goal of the oral exam is to ascertain the understanding of the different topics of the class, particularly regarding the capability of independently elaborating the acquired information.

frontal lessons and field excursions

English

slides/notes of lectures

oral