Geophysics for Cultural Heritage

The main characteristic of geophysical methods is the non-invasiveness and their consequent ability to investigate and, therefore, know a system providing information on anomalies, in a specific time or time-lapsed, studying the non-direct way the variations of one or more physical parameters. This feature is undoubtedly crucial for all investigations in cultural heritage, for a particular system or artefact under protection. The development of new technologies, sensors, and software has led to new geophysical applications in cultural heritage analyses in recent decades. Today, thanks to geophysical methods at different scales, besides the more systematic and well-known exploration, geological, hydrogeological, and engineering applications used over the times, we can provide crucial information on the state of ancient systems and objects, fundamental for restoration and conservation strategies, then opening new frontiers for the application of these non-invasive methods in cultural heritage applications.