A Multilevel Approach to Monitor the Archaeological Park of Pompeii

Monitoring activities are indispensable in archaeological sites to implement a strategic plan for maintenance. In Pompeii this need is very challenging because an effective monitoring and inspection system requires that it be implemented on more than 1,221 buildings, in 10,400 rooms, many of which are plastered, frescoed, and without roofs, and across 8,690 m2 of streets and squares of the ancient city. The actual monitoring activities in Pompeii is part of a strategy that allows us to evaluate the extent and severity of damage, material decay and anomalies identified on the structures and green areas, and moreover to assess the stability of the sloped edge of excavation. This information provides support for the decision-making process necessary for the maintenance program. The complexity of the cultural heritage in Pompeii has led to the development of a multileveled approach and that means that the monitoring activities are organised on multiple operational levels, characterised by different levels of detail corresponding to different scales of investigation and from different views of the town. The multilevel approach integrates the results of satellite interferometry, for monitoring deformations and slow movements of the ground and structures; the results of images recorded by drones; the results of inspection campaigns carried out by a multidisciplinary team of experts; the results of inspection campaigns obtained by robots; and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with devices implemented in specific critical cases. This approach allows the management of human and instrumental resources, aiming at the optimisation of the budget and time required in order to obtain an efficient, resilient and accurate procedure that yields an effective maintenance program.