Non-contact micro-geophysical measurements in the study of wall structures

Masonry walls, especially those of historic buildings, are often difficult to investigate. The current approach consists of analysing small portions of the structure. The techniques employed are often invasive and in any case incapable of providing a complete picture of the variety of problems to be solved, which may range from the hardly trivial presence of humidity and hence degradation, to the far more serious problems of stability of the entire structure. The aim of this work is to test the effectiveness and feasibility, also in economic terms, of physical and micro-geophysical methods suitable for assessing the internal conditions of masonry, in terms of both stability and decay. This kind of information may be useful for both structural and architectonic restoration