Integrating radar and laser-based remote sensing techniques for monitoring structural deformation of archaeological monuments

Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (GBInSAR) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) were purposely integrated to obtain 3D interferometric radar point clouds to facilitate the spatial interpretation of displacements affecting archaeological monuments. The paper describes the procedure to implement this integrated approach in the real-world situations of surveillance of archaeological and built heritage. Targeted tests were carried out on the case study of the Domus Tiberiana sited along the northern side of the Palatino Hill in the central archaeological area of Rome, Italy, and displacements of the monument were monitored over almost one year of acquisition. The GBInSAR – TLS integration provided updated information about the condition of the archaeological structures in relation to their history of instability mechanisms, and did not highlighted a general worsening for the stability of the entire monument. Point-wise and prompt detection of displacement anomalies and/or sudden changes in displacement trends proved the suitability of the method to support early warning procedures, also to evaluate effects on the masonry due to human activities.     

Botanical Bosom Serpent Traditions

Abstract

This article surveys examples of ‘botanical bosom serpents’; that is, stories where a plant, or some vegetable element, is said to enter and/or grow in the human body. These can be found in sources—for the most part European—from ancient times onwards. This is a preliminary study, as the topic is one that has been neglected by folklorists and historians of medicine.     

On the Earthquake-Source Numerical Implementation in the Seismic Wave Equation

We present a detailed approach to implement a moment-tensor point source to compute displacements, particle velocities and accelerations using direct grid methods. Here, the wave modeling algorithm is based on pseudospectral methods to compute the partial derivatives. A comparison to the analytical solution in the 3D acoustic case verifies the discrete implementation of the source in the mesh. Then, the more general 3D elastic case is illustrated and simulations, with and without free surface, are performed that can be used as a reference solution for other grid methods.     

Stronger together? Assessing the causal effect of inter‐municipal cooperation on the efficiency of small Italian municipalities

When local governments are small and fragmented, promoting inter‐municipal cooperation (IMC) among them is seen as a tool to improve the management of public services by reaping economies of scale and scope. Yet, the empirical evidence on the impacts of IMC on local governments' efficiency is scarce and inconclusive. In this paper, we investigate the experience of Italy's municipal unions (Unioni di comuni). We develop an index of technical efficiency by means of robust data envelopment analysis. We then exploit nearest‐neighbor matching and fuzzy regression discontinuity design estimators to explore whether municipal unions have any impacts on the administrative efficiency of member municipalities. We fail to find any strong, significant effect.     

Does EU cohesion policy work? Theory and evidence

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of European Cohesion Policy in the regions of 12 EU countries in the period 1991–2008, on the basis of a spatial growth model, which allows for the identification of both direct and indirect effects of EU funds on GDP per worker growth. We find that “Objective 1” funds are characterized by strong spatial externalities and a positive and concave effect on the growth of GDP per worker, which reaches a peak at the ratio funds/GDP of approximately 3 percent and becomes non‐significant after 4 percent. “Objective 2” and “Cohesion” funds have nonsignificant effects, while all the other funds exert a positive and significant effect, but their size is very limited. EU Cohesion Policy, moreover, appears to have increased its effectiveness over time. In the period 2000–2006 Objective 1 funds are estimated to have a median multiplier equal to 1.52, and to have added 0.37 percent to the GDP per worker growth. Overall, in the period 1991–2008, funds are estimated to have added 1.4 percent to the median annual growth, and to have reduced regional disparities of 8 basis points in terms of the Gini index.     

Seismic vulnerability assessment of historic centers: description of a predictive method and application to the case study of scanno (Abruzzi,Italy)

ABSTRACT

In this article, a predictive model for the seismic vulnerability assessment of old Italian historic centers is presented through its direct application to a meaningful case study, the historic center of Scanno, in Abruzzi, Italy.

The proposed method is calibrated on the basis of the observations carried out on similar historic centers hit by the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake and is applied in order to provide likely damage scenarios by means of fragility curves. The method is based on the evaluation of a limited number of structural and typological parameters that can be obtained by simple and rapid inspections on buildings. In addition, it is conceived in order to provide useful information on the most effective anti-seismic strategies to be implemented on urban scale for pursuing a global mitigation of the seismic risk and for the application of suitable risk reduction policies.

The final aim of the article is to give an applicative vision of the method, by providing instructions on how to judge the features of the buildings that are influential on their seismic behavior, as well as by showing the potentiality of the method itself in providing likely damage scenarios, also with the support of GIS-based representations.     

Modeling and deterioration mapping of façades in historical urban context by close-range ultra-lightweight UAVs photogrammetry

Deterioration mapping of façades may be a challenging task in historical urban contexts, often characterized by narrow streets and tall buildings. In these situations, the application of Terrestrial Laser Scanning or Terrestrial Photogrammetry does not provide satisfactory results. Furthermore, the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the so-called “drones”, is generally forbidden in crowded places for safety reasons unless they are lighter than a weight imposed by the regulations in force in each country. This article presents the application of a very small and ultra-lightweight drone (less than 300 g) equipped with a low-cost camera, particularly suitable for operating in very narrow spaces. A close range photogrammetric survey performed to analyze a huge historical building façade in Bologna (Italy) pointed out a good accuracy level, confirmed by the validation of the results carried out by a 3D laser scanner survey. Moreover, a map of the degradation has been realized to support further restoration analysis, demonstrating that this low-cost, fast, and easy-to-use survey technique can be applied to other similar urban contexts at the same time.     

Modeling and Seismic Response Analysis of RC Precast Italian Code-Conforming Buildings

ABSTRACT

In this study, industrial single-story RC precast buildings are investigated. Twenty-four case studies have been considered, in which the column height, the beam spans and the seismic hazard level are varied. The seismic design of the selected case studies is performed according to the Italian building code and additional technical documentation. Three-dimensional nonlinear models are defined to perform static and dynamic analyses for the seismic assessment of the selected case studies. Demand/capacity ratios in terms of the selected engineering demand parameters are computed for ten increasing values of the seismic input return period.     

The process of privatisation of cultural heritage and the arts in Italy: analysis and perspectives

During the last decade, institutional changes in the cultural heritage sector triggered some fierce debate in Europe. This paper analyses the complex process of privatising cultural heritage and the arts in Italy, showing how the relationship between this process and urban regeneration policies is tacitly legitimising it, despite the harsh controversies it previously provoked. From a perspective of ‘territorialisation’ discussed in this paper, this policy process could enhance the involvement of the private sector, bringing to light new fields of research and application in the international heritage debate.