The “Pieve di Santa Maria” in Arezzo (Italy). From the Laser Scanner Survey to the Knowledge of the Architectural Structure

The parish church of “Santa Maria” is considered one of the most important medieval buildings of Arezzo Although the church is attested from 11th century, it is between the 13th and 14th centuries that reached its current consistency, characterized by the particular façade with small columns on several levels and an imposing bell tower. Later, from the 16th to the 18th century, the church underwent profound transformations, that were almost completely erased by extensive restoration works in the second half of the 19th century. The architectural survey of the parish church of “Santa Maria” was carried out with a phase-shift laser scanner and a digital reflex camera (Z+F 5006h). 189 scans were performed for generating the 3D model of the church: 180 of them with high density and normal quality, lasting 5-6 minutes; the remaining ones with super high density and high quality, lasting 13-14 minutes. Vectorial drawings of plans and sections were then created from the 3D model. Thanks to laser scanner survay of the chuch, it was possible to highlight the singularity of the structure of the basilical body and the transept. The tilt of walls and columns, the variations in the thickness of the walls, the considerable deformations of some arches, the cracks and textures of the wall facing were thus shown. The information obtained attested an architectural structure created by complex construction events that over time have affected this building. The cnstructive singularities involve the medieval genesis of the building, the transformations during the following centuries and the following restoration works. These composite features are specific and common to every ancient building. This peculiar epistemological condition eschews from simplifications and requires deep and complex studies closely linked to the problems of conservation of the structures

the tempio della consolazione in todi integrated geomatictechniques for a monument description including structuraldamage evolution in time

The Tempio della Consolazione in Todi (16th cent.) has always been one of the most significant symbols of the Umbrian landscape. Since the first times after its completion (1606) the structure has exhibited evidences of instability, due to foundation subsiding and/or seismic activity. Structural and geotechnical countermeasures have been undertaken on the Tempio and its surroundings from the 17th century until recent times. Until now a truly satisfactory analysis of the overall deformation and attitude of the building has not been performed, since the existing surveys record the overhangs of the pillars, the crack pattern or the subsidence over limited time spans. Describing the attitude of the whole church is in fact a complex operation due to the architectural character of the building, consisting of four apses (three polygonal and one semicircular) covered with half domes, which surround the central area with the large dome. The present research aims to fill the gap of knowledge with a global study based on geomatic techniques for an accurate 3D reconstruction of geometry and attitude, integrated with a historical research on damage and interventions and a geotechnical analysis. The geomatic survey results from the integration of different techniques: GPS-GNSS for global georeferencing, laser scanning and digital photogrammetry for an accurate 3D reconstruction, high precision total station and geometric leveling for a direct survey of deformations and cracks, and for the alignment of the laser scans. The above analysis allowed to assess the dynamics of the cracks occurred in the last 25 years by a comparison with a previous survey. From the photographic colour associated to the point cloud was also possible to map the damp patches showing on the domes intrados, mapping their evolution over the last years

THE CATHEDRAL OF S. LORENZO IN PERUGIA AND THE HYPOGEAL SPACES. GEOMATIC TECHNIQUES FOR SPATIAL INVESTIGATIONS AIMED AT THE KNOWLEDGE AND INTERPRETATION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE TRANSEPT

The area of the monumental complex of the Cathedral and the rectories of S. Lorenzo, located on the “acropolis” of Perugia, has been for more than two thousand years the main religious and civil reference site of all populations since the origin of the city of Perugia. The aim of this research was to survey the monumental complex of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo through the use of various geomatic techniques, with particular attention to the areas of the apse, the transept, the attic, the upper courtyard and the lower one, together with the hypogeal rooms of the Capitular Museum underlying the church, including important and impressive ruins as a portion of an Etruscan terracing wall (2nd century BC).The complex is extremely articulated, so it was necessary to correlate external and hypogeal internal spaces; the site is also characterized by the existence of numerous archaeological traces of various origins, resulting from the succession of events developed over the centuries and countless works that have been integrated, juxtaposed and in some cases replaced by previous ones. All this circumstances contribute to make not easy the understanding of the planimetric and altimetric relationships existing between the different parts and the identification of the real context of the architectural elements is equally complex. The need to connect different areas of the monumental complex located at different levels (from hypogeal rooms and vaults to the church, the attic and the external squares and streets) has required a coordinated and integrated use of geomatic techniques such as precision GNSS positioning (outside the building) and the creation of a very articulated three-dimensional geodetic network connecting the external GNSS vertices with the internal reference points and targets placed in the different areas to frame in a unique global datum the subsequent detailed surveys performed with LIDAR and photogrammetric techniques, so that the single scans and local surveys could be assembled to form a unique 3D model. Among the many aspects highlighted, in particular, it was possible to understand the genesis of the cathedral transept, whose size was dictated by an imposing Etruscan wall. Until now the ruins of the ancient cathedral complex were known - referring to three different buildings, the cathedral, the dodecagonal bell tower and the chapel of Sant'Ercolano - incorporated into the side of the basilical body in front of Piazza IV Novembre. From additional ruins attributed to the structure of the ancient cathedral, it was obtained that the level of the floor of the church has been substantially maintained in the current cathedral.</p

THE &lt;i&gt;TEMPIO DELLA CONSOLAZIONE&lt;/i&gt; IN TODI: INTEGRATED GEOMATIC TECHNIQUES FOR A MONUMENT DESCRIPTION INCLUDING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE EVOLUTION IN TIME

The Tempio della Consolazione in Todi (16th cent.) has always been one of the most significant symbols of the Umbrian landscape. Since the first times after its completion (1606) the structure has exhibited evidences of instability, due to foundation subsiding and/or seismic activity. Structural and geotechnical countermeasures have been undertaken on the Tempio and its surroundings from the 17th century until recent times. Until now a truly satisfactory analysis of the overall deformation and attitude of the building has not been performed, since the existing surveys record the overhangs of the pillars, the crack pattern or the subsidence over limited time spans. Describing the attitude of the whole church is in fact a complex operation due to the architectural character of the building, consisting of four apses (three polygonal and one semicircular) covered with half domes, which surround the central area with the large dome. The present research aims to fill the gap of knowledge with a global study based on geomatic techniques for an accurate 3D reconstruction of geometry and attitude, integrated with a historical research on damage and interventions and a geotechnical analysis. The geomatic survey results from the integration of different techniques: GPS-GNSS for global georeferencing, laser scanning and digital photogrammetry for an accurate 3D reconstruction, high precision total station and geometric leveling for a direct survey of deformations and cracks, and for the alignment of the laser scans. The above analysis allowed to assess the dynamics of the cracks occurred in the last 25 years by a comparison with a previous survey. From the photographic colour associated to the point cloud was also possible to map the damp patches showing on the domes intrados, mapping their evolution over the last years