Validation of non-destructive geomatic techniques for the dimensional and structural evaluation of historical masonry

Résumé

This research project plans development of non destructive geomatic techniques for the metrical information acquisition and processing in order to use their results in the dimensional-structural analysis of historic structures as well as the documentation of superficial materials. This research project is mainly oriented towards the survey of historical arch bridges. After evaluating the state of art geomatic techniques in the civil engineering field, a series of techniques were selected as the more suitable for the structures which are surveyed during the evolution of this thesis. Should be noted thta all the tasks of this thesis were planned considering the structures from the engineering point of view, but having also into account the patrimonial value of all these constructions. In this sense, any procedure for the researching and planning of historical monuments should be based on detailed and updated documentation of all their geometric parameteres, architectonic and material characteristics, as wellas the structural evaluation of the construction (ICOMOS, 2001). Several methodologies based on the documentation of historical masonry structures by means of non destructive geomatic techniques were developed and tested in this doctoral thesis. The results of the proposed methodology for routine inspection of historical masonry structures (arch bridges); two apporaches of metrical documentation of metrical documentation of structures based on laser scanning data, and a pioneer methodology for the automatic detection of material pathologies based on terrestrial laser scanning intensity data.