|
GPR Surveys at St. Salvatore Fortress in Messina
by
D. De Domenico
Osservatorio Sismologico Università di Messina
Coauthors: Giannino F., Teramo A.
With the aim of performing a specific analysis of the structural features of the St. Salvatore Fortress, an emblematic building of ancient Messina, located near the harbour corresponding to the S. Raineri peninsula, preliminary surveys have been carried out to characterize the subsequent transformations of the building, from its origin.
These transformations, due to natural and anthropic events, make the philological lecture of the monument as well as the dating of the different stratigraphic cuts of the building masonry very difficult. In this regard, profitable collaboration with the Messina Monuments and Fine Arts Office as to be highlighted, concerning also a more extensive research programme, in order to estimate its seismic vulnerability, owing to the construction in 1932 of a 70 m high stele, in reinforced concrete, which has recently been strengthened.
The georadar surveys were carried out with two shielded antennas, with a central frequency of 100 and 250 MHz. Numerous profiles have been achieved both in the internal and external part of the fortress, in monostatic and bistatic configuration: the ones in monostatic configuration (constant offset) have enabled a quick and efficient localization of the more interesting anomalous zones, with a good horizontal resolution; while, in bistatic configuration (variable offset), some WARR (Wide Angle Radar Reflection) have been carried out in the potential structural interest zones, providing information on wave velocities and depth of reflecting interfaces.
The carried out surveys have highlighted some buried structures of anthropic origin, that will be the object of further in depth studies through specific excavations.
Date received: September 24, 2004
Copyright © 2004 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # caon-66.