A NEW METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH ON THE EVALUATION OF STABILITY OF CAVITIES IN "SOFT" CARBONATE ROCKS

Seismic tomography, seismic refraction tomography and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) imaging was employed to make diagnosis for an very important archaeological cave named "Grotta della Poesia". Rock fracturing and destructive force of sea waves causes structural instability in the roof of the cave that has partially collapsed. The inside geometry of fractures and the physical parameters of the surrounding and underground materials were the primary objectives of the geophysical survey. Seismic and ERT data were acquired along one horizontal profile on the roof of the cave. The interpretation of integrated geophysical data resulted in an evaluation of the conservation degree of the Cave.