Title: NEW integrated approach for seismic protection and valorisation of heritAGE buildings on historical soil deposits (NEW AGE)

Principal Investigator: Francesca da Porto | Programme: PRIN 2022 DM 104/2022

Cultural Heritage (CH) represents the identity of a nation, which needs to be preserved for future generations. Many CH buildings rise on several layers of archaeological remains, dating back to different eras. Only integrated knowledge and modelling of under/above ground systems allows full understanding of the urban centre evolution and defining effective strategies for built heritage safeguard. This approach represents a notable step forward proper CH protection and valorisation. NEW AGE aims to collect data of under/above ground CH systems by means of innovative methods and protocols. The data are included within a unique informative system, and used for modelling, analysis, visualisation, thus contributing to definition of decision-making strategies for protection, management and valorisation of CH assets. This contamination of knowledge is the core of the proposal, which develops through a multidisciplinary, multi- criteria approach. The main goals of the project match those of Next Generation EU and Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), with reference to Tourism and Culture 4.0. The project contributes to increase the level of tourism and cultural system attractiveness through the modernisation of tangible and intangible CH infrastructures, by connecting the under- and above-ground CH resource. NEW AGE activities are organized into four Work Packages. WP2 develops and applies multiscale and integrated testing and informative protocols for sub-soil and structures. Retrieved data will be then managed and used for interoperable and multi-level modelling of under/above ground systems (WP3). The project outcomes will be finalised to define technical and methodological guidelines, to develop decision making support tools, as well as to disseminate the project results (WP4). WP1 takes care of project coordination and management. The work will be carried out by synergic collaboration of three experienced research units (RU), with knowhow in different areas (geophysics, geology, geotechnics, archaeology, and structures), to maximize outputs and impacts. The RUs are led by qualified women, which also pursues improvement of gender balance in STEM. The proposal provides a notable advancement in the field of CH protection and valorisation, in full respect of the DNSH (Do Not Significant Harm) principle. Proper dissemination, end-user involvement, and case-study applications will boost the impact of project outcomes. Considering the broad implications of the developed technologies and approaches, NEW AGE outputs will also have a significant social and economic impact on the Italian communities. Project results, including final guidelines, have a strong potential for application in other countries rich in under- and above-ground CH assets, contributing to internationalization of Italian research and technology. Confidence in the success is motivated by experience of the RUs, consistency of the project, and methodology robustness.