Francesco Caridi, Daniele Chiriu, Stefania Da Pelo, Giuliana Faggio, Michele Guida, Giacomo Messina, Maurizio Ponte, Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo, Domenico Majolino, Valentina Venuti
This study evaluates the radon exhalation rate, natural radioactivity content, and radiological hazard associated with the Viterbo tuff stone, a material of historical and architectural significance. The radon exhalation rate was measured using the Closed Chamber Method (CCM) with the Durridge RAD7 Real-time continuous radon monitor, while the specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Radiological hazard was assessed through the following indices: absorbed gamma dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.035
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Lorenzo Pistorino, Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Antonio Francesco Mottese, Domenico Majolino, Valentina Venuti
In this paper, an assessment of natural radioactivity content, radiological hazard for human beings and mineralogical composition of a pumice rock sample from Lipari Island (Sicily, Southern Italy), historically employed as a building material, is presented as a case study. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K was assessed by means of High-Purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Based on the obtained data, several indices were calculated – namely the absorbed dose rate (D), the Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), the Activity Concentration Index (Iγ) and the alpha...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.034
· Download
Simona Mancini, Serpil Aközcan Pehlivanoğlu, Natasa Todorovic, Albina Cuomo, Domenico Guida, Michele Guida
Several historical urban centers in Italy are renowned for being built into tuff, a porous volcanic rock rich in radionuclides contents. Tuff is among the building materials, counted in the Annex II of the European Directive 59/2013/Euratom, implemented in Italy by Legislative Decree 101/2020, that are subject to the control of the content of natural radionuclides. If threshold levels are exceeded, measures to limit the exposure of the population should be adopted. In historical buildings, tuff can constitute an important secondary source of radon, after soil, in the indoor environment,...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.033
· Download
Francesco Caridi, Daniele Chiriu, Stefania Da Pelo, Giuliana Faggio, Michele Guida, Giacomo Messina, Maurizio Ponte, Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo, Domenico Majolino, Valentina Venuti
This study evaluates the effectiveness of consolidants in reducing radon (Rn-222) exhalation from building materials commonly found in historical structures. Radon, a radioactive gas derived from Ra-226 decay, represents a significant indoor health risk due to its tendency to accumulate. Experimental investigations were conducted within the ATHENA project, assessing radon emission from various lithotypes subjected to accelerated aging and treated with different consolidants, including PDMS, NanoEstel (silica-based materials), and NanoRestore (calcium-based material). Radon exhalation rates...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.032
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Giuliana Faggio, Francesco Caridi, Daniele Chiriu, Stefania Da Pelo, Michele Guida, Giacomo Messina, Maurizio Ponte, Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo, Domenico Majolino, Valentina Venuti
This study investigates "Tufo di Viterbo", a natural stone of significant interest in the cultural heritage field widely appreciated as a building material. The mineral composition and crystalline microstructures of Viterbo Tuff were analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Micro-Raman scattering (MRS) techniques. This work provides valuable information that could be helpful for the artistic heritage preservation and environmental science communities, potentially enabling the formulation of enhanced strategies for extending the durability of this important natural resource. Additionally,...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.031
· Download
Enzo Fioriti, Eugenia Verrigni Petrei Castelli, Alessandro Colucci, Ivan Roselli
In the present study, the displacement timeseries of ancient Etruscan pottery was analysed. The investigated pottery is exhibited within a museum display case and subjected to environmental vibrations induced by nearby urban transportation traffic. Some mathematical tools suited to non-linear and non-stationary analysis, namely the Recurrence Plot and the Stockwell transform, were used for the first time in this particular field. Even though the pottery displacements were small, the use of conventional high accuracy contact sensors should be discarded, due to the extreme fragility of the...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.030
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Ivan Roselli, Domenico Palumbo
Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on a deep learning procedure through Convolutional Variational Autoencoders (CVAEs) have been previously explored to analyze vibration data with the aim of assessing the state of damage of historic masonry structures subjected to seismic shakes. Nonetheless, CVAE application can be optimized by investigating the effect of different sizes of the used latent space and the time sequence length. Therefore, in the present work the optimal size of the two fundamental parameters of CVAE in the analysis of white-noise vibration data as dynamic characterization tool...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.029
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Mario Fagone, Tommaso Rotunno, Natalia Pingaro, Gabriele Milani
This paper presents an experimental study on the structural response of a 1500-mm span masonry arch subjected to self-weight and an asymmetric concentrated vertical load increased up to failure. The arch is tested under controlled conditions, with steel plates installed at the springing to prevent parasitic sliding and ensure realistic boundary constraints. Displacement transducers (LVDTs) are strategically positioned to monitor vertical and horizontal displacements at selected points. The experiment allows for a direct observation of the evolution of the failure mechanism up to collapse,...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.028
· Download
Efcharis Balodimou, Nicoletta Bianchini, Tasmin Withers, Laden Husamaldin, Moein Motavallizadeh Naeini, Tesfaye Tessema, Fabio Tosti
Heritage sites are vital cultural assets, preserving the history and achievements of societies. These sites face threats from urban expansion, environmental degradation, and climate change. This paper proposes a systematic, methodological, and multi-temporal monitoring approach for heritage sites, focusing on the historic Wolvesey Castle in Winchester, using medium-resolution satellite data. The approach aims to assess structural stability, quantify risks, and guide conservation interventions while respecting the sites' significance. The integration of remote sensing with traditional...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.027
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Francesco Fazzio
This paper synthesizes a research conducted for the Italian Ministry of Culture - Superintendence of Rome and Rieti between 2023 and 2024. Its principal aim is to point out the different conditions of minor settlements and built elements still presenting urban and architectural-historical value after the destructions caused by the 2016 earthquake in Central Italy. This general glance was achieved especially for the Amatrice and Accumoli territories with different analysis and studies. Their results can be considered from different points of view and allow to focus on significant aspects:...
TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
· TC26
· 2025
· 10.21014/tc26-2025.026
· Download