PSI - Issue 64

Luigi Petti et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 64 (2024) 629–636 Petti L., Zuchtriegel G., Lupo C., Calvanese V. & De Gaetano C.M. / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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1. Introduction In order to manage and protect archaeological sites there is a need for well-defined strategies aimed at assessing the condition of the heritage and ensuring an appropriate management of financial and human resources to implement a proactive maintenance plan with sustainable procedures (see Petti L et al. (2020), UNESCO (2015), ICOMOS (1990), ICOMOS (2008)). Many of the archaeological sites around the world are often located in hazardous environments, both natural and anthropic, and today more than ever, it is important to consider the risks related to climate change, as highlighted by the European Commission (2022). Strategies for safeguarding against natural hazards such as landslides, floods, and earthquakes have been developed and tested. FAR-Program (2022) has recently emphasized the importance of new sources of hazards in certain disasters, including those caused by human activity (such as mass tourism and environmental pollution) and those related to climate change. To ensure the implementation of an effective risk management, it is essential to develop appropriate strategic plans that both anticipate uncertainties and are sufficiently flexible to adapt to unforeseen events. In accordance with UNESCO policies, this is a significant challenge that cannot be met through mere risk avoidance. In this context, an important contribution has been provided by international agreements, such as the Paris and the Sendai agreements, UNCC (2015) and UNISDR (2015), concerning the promotion of management strategies related to climate change and the reduction of the risk of disaster, respectively. An appropriate risk management requires an efficient maintenance plan, based on reliable knowledge and predictions of decay development. For the purpose of maintenance, it is necessary to implement a monitoring strategy that regularly assesses the condition of the archaeological site. An efficient monitoring strategy for heritage management should be based on a standardized process that adopts multi/transdisciplinary approaches and uses innovative technologies. This will support decision-making processes for those responsible for heritage management (see Petti L et al (2023), IM-SAFE (2020), Boldrighini F and De Santis A (2020), Bonazza A et al. (2020), Russo A and Della Giovanpaola I (2020)). Moreover, the development of a monitoring strategy allows for the sustainable use of human and economic resources by intervening only when necessary, and so helping to preserve the authenticity of the remains. The Archaeological Park of Pompeii developed and initiated the Great Pompeii Project (GPP), from 2012 to 2022, as an important scheme of interventions for the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of the archaeological site of Pompeii (see Osanna M and Picone R (2018)). Now, the challenge is to safeguard and improve on the high standards attained by the GPP in terms of conservation, renovation, public access, and education through an ordinary and sustainable management process. With the aim to apply sustainable management policies and to safeguard the complex archaeological site of Pompeii, thanks to a joint project between the Department of Civil Engineering (DICIV) of the University of Salerno (UNISA) and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii (PAP), an innovative multi-level and multi-scale monitoring approach has been developed. The model is subdivided into three assessment levels: Local (LA), Global (GA), and Detailed (DA). This paper provides an overview of the approach, with a focus on the first two levels. In addition, it includes some Given its relevance to the history of archaeology and antiquity, UNESCO has recognised the Archaeological Park of Pompeii as a World Heritage Site since 1997. Pompeii covers 66 hectares of which about 44 are excavated (including some suburban areas) and it is a unique site comprising of buildings, monuments, sculptures, paintings, and mosaics. In addition to the ancient city of Pompeii, PAP includes other archaeological sites, museums, and buildings, including: ancient Oplontis in Torre Annunziata; the Roman sites of Villa Arianna e Villa San Marco in Stabiae; the Royal Palace of Quisisana in Castellammare di Stabia; the Antiquarium and archaeological site of Villa Regina in Boscoreale (Naples); the Castle in Lettere; and the Bourbon gunpowder factory in Scafati. The Pompeian sites by their nature are fragile. They were buried by the eruption in AD 79 when several metres of pumice, ash, and pyroclastic flows destroyed roofs and upper floors leaving only the ground floor walls standing, trapped in the volcanic material that filled the rooms. They were rediscovered through exploration and then archaeological excavations that have continued almost unceasingly since 1748 to the present day. descriptions of examples of its application. 2. The Archaeological site of Pompeii