Geophysics Applied to Cultural Heritage

A.Y. 2025/2026
6
Max ECTS
48
Overall hours
SSD
GEO/11
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course develops themes related to the application of geophysical prospecting methodologies for the non-invasive exploration and characterization of shallow lands and for the evaluation of the conservation status of artifacts in the archaeological field and the preservation of cultural heritage. The overall objective of the course is to provide students with fundamental conceptual tools, as well as practical guidelines for immediate use in the current work context, for evaluating the scenarios of geophysical prospecting applications aimed at the non-invasive characterization of materials.The course consists of 3 parts: 1) introduction to applied geophysics as a tool for imaging and diagnosis, definition of geophysical anomaly and background, importance of the geological-geomorphological and architectural context, description of the fields and physical scales of application, resolution, and density of information obtainable from prospecting;2) definition of the physical characteristics of natural materials (electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, magnetic susceptibility, density) and the geological properties of soils and rock materials (texture, structure, porosity, fracturing), with particular emphasis on the water vs. soil/materials relationships; 3) introduction to geophysical prospecting methods for archaeology and for assessing the conservation status of artifacts. The presentation of prospecting methods includes the fundamentals of theory, the description of acquisition and data processing methods, and a critical discussion of numerous application examples in real cases; in particular, the continuous current geoelectrical prospecting 1-D (VES), 2-D (ERI), 3-D and 4-D, frequency domain electromagnetic prospecting (FDEM), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), magnetic and magneto-gradiometric prospecting, microgravity prospecting will be illustrated.
Expected learning outcomes
· knowledge of the main geophysical prospecting methods applicable in the archaeological field and in the historical-critical field and the conservation of cultural heritage· definition of the potential of the methods and their best integration in relation to the specific context of application; evaluation of expected results and related uncertainties;· introduction to the design of prospecting campaigns in relation to specific objectives, site-specific conditions, and comparative evaluation of costs and benefits;· notes on the interpretation of geophysical data, their integration, and the management of the informative content obtainable from the investigations, with particular reference to the definition of independent databases necessary for the critical interpretation of results.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Teaching provided in alternate years, not active in the academic year 2025-26

GEO/11 - APPLIED GEOPHYSICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours